I haven’t beta-tested an MMORPG in some time, but I just received word that I’m the Tabula Rasa beta. I know it’s been around for a while, and I know it’s probably not a WoW killer. (I don’t know if there’s a WoW killer on the horizon yet.)
But I’m excited anyway. My first-ever beta test for anything was Ultima Online, and I still think some of the best aspects of UO haven’t ever been reproduced. So Richard Garriott’s attachment to this is somewhat intriguing.
I especially appreciate the emphasis on storytelling. I’m not saying I’m optimistic that the vision will live up to my dreams—or even be realized as it is, for that matter. But I’m willing and even eager to see what results.
As far as I can tell, the NDA permits me to do nothing more than admit I’m in the beta. I can’t post screenshots or even describe gameplay and character creation. There are other sites out there that do with impunity, though, so I’ll take another look.
The game is downloading now, and I’ll spin it up as soon as my daughter goes to bed. And I’ll post whatever the NDA allows about my impressions as soon as I have them, even if it’s as simple as “whoopie” or “oh no!”
July 13th, 2007
| I don’t just like games; I’m a foodie as well. On Fridays, I publish drink or cocktail recipe that I enjoy as an accompaniment to some sort of game. These aren’t necessarily drinks I’ve invented, but they are superior potations that gamers who tipple are liable to enjoy. |
| And, what with all this talk of addiction here on the blog, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that the drinking of alcohol should always be done in moderation. And if you’re going to operate any sort of heavy machinery or vehicle while drunk, make sure it’s a mecha or X-wing in an computer game! |
A classic drink, and possibly the first to be called a “cocktail,” the Old Fashioned is quite simply my favorite mixed drink. Heck, this drink has a whole category of glassware named after it, so it’s decidedly seminal. A touch of sweet, a touch of bitter, and a splash of water to ease everything down.
Whisky drinks seem, to me, to belong next to a finely polished wooden game board with alabaster and onyx chess pieces arrayed and ready for battle. But chess has never been geeky enough for me. Instead, I prefer to layer strategy games with fantastical—or at least narrative—elements. So I recommend an Old Fashioned (my favorite version is below) in a nice, heavy Old Fashioned glass, with a leisurely Game of Thrones.
As Cersei tells Ned, when you play the game of thrones, you either win . . . or you die. And either way, you’ll want a stiff drink.
Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 50 ml bourbon
- Angostura bitters
- 1 cube of sugar (or a light teaspoonful if you don’t have cubes)
- water
- 1 maraschino cherry
I like this best with Maker’s Mark bourbon, although I think it’s probably quite good with other good-quality whiskies. If you opt for cheaper whisky, you’ll probably want to garnish it more heavily, perhaps with two thin slices of orange. For the water, I just use the filtered stuff that comes out of my refrigerator.
Instructions
Put the sugar cube in the bottom of an Old Fashioned glass and put one or two dashes of bitters on top. Muddle with a spoon, then add a splash of water to further dissolve the sugar. Add a few cubes of ice (I like to fill the glass), then pour the whisky over the ice. Garnish with the cherry and enjoy.
I note that some people top this off with soda water. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to take a perfectly nice drink and turn it into a bizarre, whisky-flavored soda.
July 13th, 2007