WRUP: Gestalt Edition

Gestalt is a psychological time period that refers to something better as a whole than the sum of its parts. This is not a tough phenomenon to see in motion -- you've got to combine flour, yeast, and cinnamon together to get a scrumptious loaf of cinnamon-swirl bread, in any case. The term can also be utilized to Transformers, which combine right into a single huge robotic, normally one that is not particularly scrumptious. Regardless of this reality, the official term remains "combiner" as an alternative, presumably because the people who are in command of naming are frightened about what would happen if everyone began using obscure psychology terms.

Hey, so long as we're already speaking about combining issues, we'd as effectively go whole-hog into this week's WRUP. That itself is a gestalt, however that does not appear quite spicy sufficient. Let's all talk about combining video games together into a complete better than the sum of its components. Yeah, that's the ticket. Leap on previous the break for that and what the staff shall be enjoying this weekend, then tell us in the comments what you may be getting up to.

Beau Hindman (@Beau_Hindman): I'll be ending up my time with Minions of Mirth and shifting on to The Realm Online. I've simply barely started to play, but already the sport is very charming, and the community is awesome. Supposedly it's one of many oldest round! I will even be placing a lot more time constructing up my metropolis in Illyriad and trying to hit the subsequent level in Ministry of Conflict. Then I'll proceed to make plans for taking per week to make use of no PCs at all and to live off only my cellphone (for a future venture).

If I might combine two video games, they would be Ryzom and The Chronicles of Spellborn. Not solely would it's the very best-looking sport in the complete history of the universe, however it would have every part I wanted. Properly, that is, if I might throw in some Wurm On-line as effectively. And uhm... combine in the epicness of Vanguard. Oh yeah, and will I throw in some Mabinogi crafting and its rebirth system? What about...

Brandon Felczer (@bfelczer): This weekend I'm going away on trip to my time share in Palm Springs and going to try and not take my laptop computer -- Okay, I'm gonna take it however try to not open it. We will see how that goes. So, WRUP this weekend? LIFE!

If I could combine two sport into one, it could undoubtedly be Star Trek Online and EVE On-line -- that could be pure and utter madness!

Brendan Drain (@nyphur): It's come time for me to shut up the Massively Mob corporation in EVE Online and leave Massively Motivated in the hands of its directors. It has been niggling at me for the reason that EVE fanfest that operating a PvE corporation is not what I want to do or what I'm good at, and forcing myself to do it has murdered my enthusiasm for taking part in. I'll be getting again into things I enjoy extra, like PvP and enjoying the market in my very own time.

If I might merge any two games, it'd be EVE On-line and Age of Conan -- an odd mixture but one I think would work. Having performed on a PvP server in Age of Conan, I found that sneaking around the zones tracking players down and smashing them to bits was extremely fun. EVE Online's single-shard construction, open-world territorial battle, a type of policing and sentry turret system for protected areas, and a disposable gear system may all do wonders for AoC.

Eliot Lefebvre Ms. Lady and i might be persevering with to explore Remaining Fantasy XIV collectively, as she's been completely in love with the sport now that she's bought a machine able to dealing with it. I've also acquired The Sims Medieval to occupy my time, and I'd love to get again into Guild Wars with whatever spare moments are left.

Combining video games is a bit of a pastime of mine to start with, and numerous these video games wind up being MMOs. I would like to see a mash-up between the setting and baroque, unique lessons of Closing Fantasy XI with the ability system, armor system, and distinctly quick-paced breakdown of Guild Wars. Failing that, I'd like to mash the setting of Sword 2 right into a Star Trek Online-style engine. Mix up Fallen Earth and Metropolis of Heroes to provide me a Gamma World MMO!

Jef Reahard: A bit of EVE and AoC right here, and i've additionally returned to EverQuest II for some time (mainly because it still has the most effective player housing regardless of being seven years old, /sniff).

My unholy hybrid can be Ultima Online plus Star Wars Galaxies, and going into details would take this entire column. When you performed both, you know why. It's hard not to incorporate EVE in there too, however I feel CCP will eventually turn it into the ultimate sandbox, so there'd really be no motive to combine it with something at that time.

Jeremy Stratton (@Jeremy_Stratton): I am persevering with my quest to acquire and improve a vahtos accessory-set for my Priest/Rogue in Runes of Magic. Although each accessory has a very completely different level-requirement and none of the pieces goes near the current stage-cap, they're nonetheless really useful for squishies (particularly a pew-pewing Priest). I did not must assume for a second about which two video games I would mix. I might like to see all the numerous enjoyable elements of Runes of Magic injected into the enormous and stunning world of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.

Justin Olivetti (@Sypster): As much as doable, I will be playing Lord of the Rings On-line to eek out all of that further bonus XP for the anniversary weekend celebration. So no RIFT till Monday, alas!

Mixture-clever, it would be awesome to see RIFT and City of Heroes mixed. The soul system and dynamic events of RIFT would lend themselves well to a superhero setting, and CoH has all the time had a number of the coolest combat and powers of any comedian book game.

Karen Bryan (@JayeRnH): It's Easter weekend plus the tail finish of school trip, so my playtime's limited. I will try to sneak in a little bit Pirates of the Burning Sea, though!

As for the bonus query, that's simple. I might wish to see Minecraft mixed with RIFT. I want to see a plane of Minecraft with 16-bit invasions and armies of creeers and zombies operating amok all over Telara.

MJ Guthrie: This weekend will see me cooking up a medley stew -- a dash Lord of the Rings Online, just a few shakes of STO, a heaping scoop of EverQuest II, and then a sprig of Aion for spice. I think that will fill me up fairly properly!

Hmmm, nicely the primary one would be easy to select -- pre-CU Star Wars Galaxies! The emotes, the customization, the housing, the social courses, the crafting, the... I may go on and on. I'd mix it with... um...  Rokan themes Ok, the second alternative is harder for me. I'd very well choose The Sims. I like to build; to be able to design and assemble my very own place would keep me entertained forever. Can I add in a number of The Matrix Online features as properly? Honestly, don't get me started because I would snag features from so many video games to make my perfect recreation! Then I might never venture into RL again...

Patrick Mackey (@mackeypb): Champions On-line is doing a free Serpent Lantern weekend, so any participant can play it. I'm positively going to be operating some of it with friends. One in all my buddies is coming again from the military on depart, so I will even be doing stuff with him this weekend. We'll most likely be taking part in Hisoutensoku and Artemis. I intend to add among the exploits to my YouTube channel, so if you are fascinated, examine some of that out.

If I might mix two video games into one, it can be EVE and Armored Core. Specifically, I would like a cutthroat economic player-centered mecha action sport in a put up-apocalyptic world, where gamers pilot robots as a substitute of ships and fight is blinding quick and ability-based mostly.

Firstly of each weekend, we catch up with the Massively staff members and ask them, "What are you taking part in this week?" (Otherwise often called: WRUP!) Be a part of us to see what we're as much as in and out of recreation -- and catch us within the comments to let us know what you're enjoying, too!