Nothing to Write About

Sometimes you just cant think of anything interesting to write about. Sometimes “stuff' just flows from your mind to your fingers to the screen and somehow it all makes sense. Lately, for Ol' Vettie, its been one of those times where I just cant seem to find or think of anything interesting to write about. I mean I have a lot of topics floating about in my head, but I cant seem to get anything on the screen to come across as I am thinking it. When I actually get it typed out, its not really what or the “way” I wanted it to sound so that someone reading this understands where my head is on whatever the subject is.

I usually write about mechs or something connected with MechWarrior Mercs, or I write about something that is bugging me, you know, one of my “rants”. We all know that MP3.1 (Free Mercs) from MekTek is “ready” to be released and we all know that Free Mercs is on hold because someone at Microsoft hasn't taken the time to sign off on the piece of paper giving Smith and Tinker the “ok”. We all also know that MP4 is still being worked, albeit at a much slower pace because of the surprise announcement from Smith and Tinker that MekTek would handle the Free Mercs Distribution. We all know that MekTek had to scramble to get “MP3.1” ready for the public and they also needed a vehicle and infrastructure to deliver the downloads no matter what the expected internet traffic might be. It is my understanding that MekTek has everything in place and when given the “ok”, people like you and me can get our new copy of the slightly improved Mercs.

For some folks, this will be good because they never bought, or couldnt find copies of the Microsoft Clan and IS Mech Packs (even tho over the past year or so MANY copies were available on EBAY IF you wanted to pay the outrageous prices folks were asking). I dont know how many players out there do not have the Packs, but for them, it will be an added bonus, giving them access to eight Mechs they have never been able to use before. For the IS, you get the Zeus, Highlander, Dragon and the Hunchback. The Clanners get access to the Kodiak, Masakari, Cauldron Born and the Arctic Wolf. Looks like fun in the mechlab for you folks.

For those of us that already have the MS Packs, MekTek has made some 'adjustments' to the game and for those new to the game, it will include all the previous MekTek Mek Paks full of mechs and weapons. The exceptions will be the “unseen” mechs. Maybe someday, that too will be resolved and MekTek can release its own Mek Pak containing those mechs. Unseen mechs are, and I am guessing here, the Marauder (it might also include the Marauder II?? Dont know for sure) the Archer, the Warhammer and possibly the Rifleman to name a few. At least, those are my favourites of the ones possibly in jeopardy. MekTek has a few threads about this on their forums, so I suggest you check that out for yourself and see if one (or more) of your favourites is on the official “unseen” listing.

As I mentioned above, all that is on hold for now until they get the “ok”. So, I dont really want to write about that anymore, because most folks know all that already and if you are new to MechWarrior 4 and you somehow discovered my little blog, then I just told you a quick version of the story above, a refresher for us old hats.

I dont want to spend any time on MP4, because some of the stuff originally slated for MP4 will be included in the Free Mercs release, but I dont know everything that will be included. Many of the things I speculated about to come in MP4 were actually included in some of the beta rounds. Remember tho, it was just a beta and the end product may be totally different and MekTek isnt saying for sure what is and is not included. As is with their past history, MekTek always has some cool surprise and there are always little tweaks.

The little tweaks is part (or most) of the reason I quit reviewing mechs for the time being. There COULD be some changes and I dont really want to go back and re-do an article about a mech because of some slot changes or additions or deletions. Sorry, call me lazy.

I dont really have anything to “Rant” about right now because I havent ventured out too much to see anything to cause me to rant and rave. The cold weather and all the rain we have had has me a bit “stiff”. My back and knees have days where they really dont want to cooperate with my brain and they make it really difficult to navigate terrain or drive or pretty much anything else for that matter. So no “Rants” currently.

I went to see my optometrist earlier this week. That visit went very well. He told me I didnt look my age (I hear that a lot) and that my eyes were not acting their age. I have never really had to wear glasses or contacts in my life, other than for reading back in the 6th grade and 12th grade, As you get older, you start to lose some of that focus and things just arent as sharp as they once were. With all my medical issues, I try to keep my eyes in good health as well as my teeth. About 6 years ago, I was told by my eye doc that I needed glasses for reading. Every year since then, I have gone for my check up and everything is status quo. This year, the doc says my distance seeing ability actually improved to better than 20/20 and there was no worsening of my “close-up” vision. He said my eyes were very healthy and looked great considering the other things I have going medically. I ordered some new specs. My six year old pair are still functional, but are starting to show their age and I dont really have a back-up should these break, or whatever. So nothing to rant about there.

Like I said when I started writing this article, sometimes you just cant think of anything to write about or you cant put anything together to make it where others can understand what you are saying. I am in that frame of mind lately. I need to write, I have things to say, but I just cant seem to get them together for a decent article.

An old lit professor I had in college once said (and I dont remember exactly so I will sort of paraphrase his quote) “if you get writer's block or you find yourself unable to put together more than two thoughts about any one subject, which is the case for most of you in here after reading the papers you turned in, well, I say to you, just start writing. Once you do, the thoughts will flow...” I thought I could try that here. It didnt work for me professor. Any chance I could get my money back on the class I had to take where you were supposed to 'help' us or 'teach' us something worthy? Doubtful.

I guess I just wanted to write something to let you people know I am still here and I still have my ears open to what is going on with our game, but there is nothing new to report. MekTek assures us that as soon as they get the green light they will open the dam. I hope it is soon. I have a pc that I need to reinstall Windows and (of course) MechWarrior after I do some updating to the hardware, but I have held off because of the weather (lots of static right now, even if you ground yourself properly which I do even if there is no static) and because we are so close to having Mercs for Free. Even if I re-install to my current settings, the Free Mercs will show as a different version and I will need to install it too. So I am like the rest of you, sort of waiting for this thing to happen and to see just how many folks come to the game.

We already know there are new players (and previous players) joining the mechwarrior ranks. Just look at the MekTek forums, many new names and lots of n00bs asking questions. When the switch is turned, I wonder just how many we will see? Maybe some of the league activity will increase. Maybe NBT will adopt MP3.1 over Hardcore or maybe NBT and MekTek will form a new league. League play is a lot of fun, especially a planetary league where you actually battle for 'stuff' instead of just a win loss record and bragging rights. Of course, the “open” servers should pick up with activity too.
Lately, I have been playing Vengeance. Thanks to Frost and SoE for their server and the many maps I was able to download and install. Why? Just to see what it was like. Vengeance was the 1st of the MW4 series and the game has changed a lot since those days, but that game is still fun. I remember being on dial up and playing in the opens night after night. The in-game browser window would be full of games that were full of players. Sometimes (often times) you would have to wait to get into your favourite server until someone else disconnected. Those games were always respawn and you would play a map for 30 mins or an hour and the basic object was to see who could rack up the most kills or sometimes to see who could rack up the most points.

Like many of you, I spent countless hours playing that game. I even joined a league. It was a blast. We didnt even use teamspeak, lol!!! Just MSN or screen chats. What a blast. Then this new game appeared. MW4 Mercenaries. I had to build a better machine just to play it. Man how times have changed.

Well, I guess I a going to close this one out for now. Like I said before, I cant really think of anything to write and I dont see any news to report. Keep checking back. There will be more stuff to write about SOON (so I am told). Oh, yeah w00t! Folks!