Just When I Thought I couldn't get any Cooler

With the long uni break, the fact I don't have a job, I'm so bored and I have nothing to do, I decided to revisit a part of my childhood. 


For those who are aware, I joined Pottermore recently and I've really gotten into it ("go Ravenclaw.") It's fun  and I can play it for a couple of hours with no problem. But I do find it can get repetitive and I eventually get sick of it. I honestly don't know how people could play on it all day long.
What is a fun part, is the common room forum - now that can be really entertaining. But the creator's of Pottermore really need to tweak it a bit, because it's not faultless (sorry, but I had to say.) 


This got me thinking of when I was a kid, during the times I got into Neopets. Another online game with the same principles as Pottermore, (instead of a Harry Potter world, you entre the world of Neopets) but has a WAY better forum/chat area. 


So for about a week now I've been thinking about Neopets and what happened to the Neopet I completely abandoned. I don't feel bad though - it's been years and the only thing I remember about it, was that it was blue, and I think it was a water creature, type thing. 
And let's face it; they aren't REAL pets anyway. 


Then today (I blame boredom) I decided to create a new Neopets account. Besides the forums, I really loved the games they had on that game, they were addictive and I wouldn't get off the computer until my mother/grandmother/father were calling me for dinner.
So I did. I created a new account. 
It was exactly how I remember. And to boot, they gave me gifts as a new member (OK, I would've gone back to my old account, but I have a new email now, and I wouldn't have been able to remember my password, for the life of me). 


So with the new gifts in my inventory and a happy (new) Neopet, I went searching for my favourite game. And with the click of the games button I found it - right there in the favourite section. 
So I clicked to play (after I remembered how to). 
 But after the game loaded (a lot more quicker thanks to the addition of broadband in my family) the game started. But unfortunately the game had changed. 
The stones for example were smaller (I liked the big stones personally), there were different tools to use, they added these buttons part where a dinosaur flew past when you pressed on of them. 
It was different, the game was different. And I didn't like it. 


I started to doubt my new account, when I thought I'd hit the forum section. 
There are different forum rooms depending on what you want to talk about. So, I clicked the newbie section (well I haven't played in years). 
But alas, scrolling down the topics, none of them got my attention. So, I thought I'd start my own post. 
After I'd clicked the post button a message came up; "no posting until you have had the account for 24 hours." Damn. 


That was it for me. I logged off. And I don't have any attention in going back. I might though, suss out other games, but other than that, I doubt I'll be a heavy Neopets player. All well. 


Guess it's back to Pottermore. 

Sorry, It's been a few days.

Sorry guys and yes it has been a while.
Not long though - more than a couple of days, but that is nothing for some; while a lifetime for others.
But regardless, I thought I'd say hi.
I would have written earlier, I promise, but I really have been through a lot. OK, well a lot for me.

On Monday, my family was shook with horrible, horrible news. Which (for reasons) I'm not going to go into. Sorry, but...nah.
Then yesterday, I got great news. The uni offered me a place in the course I wanted to get into. So I spent this morning trying to figure all that out - hey, it actually is pretty difficult.

And between Monday and today - I've been playing Pottermore. Lol, I know! I'm becoming slightly obsessed, but seeing as I have nothing better to do in my time - It's so much fun!

Sorry, this was a short, narcissistic post, that (probably) has no value to you.
I promise next time I'll have something more exciting.

Potter More - Cheating in the Game!

Oh My God, so, I've had Potter more for around three days or so - and my brother and I have uncovered something very foul in the game...cheating!

OK, so technically we didn't discover it, and it's been going on for a while, but I'm still seriously shocked.

So yes, Potter more is an online game - and with a gazillion glitches they must have to deal with, I have just discovered cheating. But it's not only cheating, but cheating on a grand scale.
People have been creating more than one account, which they are put into a different house. Then using the new account, they deliberately lose house points for their rival houses; with this new account.
During potions, you can blow up your cauldron, which loses points for your house.
You can also verse people in your house for duels and lose deliberately, gaining points for your original house.

There is also a house common room chat forum, where only people in your house can view the posts.
It has been discovered that people have been discussing plot plans to target other houses and make them lose points.
So, there's the cheating on a grand scale.
People are actually devising plans, talking about sabotage, in common rooms where others are unaware that this goes on.

So, I know it's the Internet - and there are going to be haters and bad people who only like causing havoc. But c'mon people they ruining what is supposed to be a fun, new, Harry Potter experience, which can be shared with all around the world.
They are abusing a game and taking (what is just a game) far too seriously.
I think the online world is forgetting that this is only a game, and people who are cheating are ruining it for everyone.

Please, if you read this and you are one of those cheaters - please stop, no one likes a bully.

Pottermore: entre Harry's World

Today I took my Harry Potter obsession to a new level, when I signed up to Pottermore.

I've known about it for a while - I even have a friend who won a competition, allowing her to be one of the first people to experience the wizarding world on a whole new level.
Then (in May of this year, I believe) my brother signed up as well. He has more than a few friends who also play the online game; add to that, their brothers and sisters, who no doubt, have it as well.
So, my connected community, is already, deep into the game.
Then (presuaded by my brother) my mother signed up.
I watched her play some of it.
This included picking a pet (you can choose between an owl, cat or a toad), and having your wand be chosen for you (you answer questions) and I even watched the sorting ceremony; again you answer questions about yourself, so they can determine you best fit.

And then it was.

I had to join too.

Watching how they took you through the chapters, the graphics and the interest of Harry Potter was partly because of it. But I have to admit, watching those questions, to determine what you got, really got me wondering. Naturally my answers were different than my mother's and I wanted to know what wand I would recieve, or what house I would be placed in.

So what is Pottermore? I would say an online game, but I feel (and so would HP fanatics,) it's the Harry Potter experience. I'm not far in, but I believe it takes you through all seven books, experiencing everything Harry, Ron, and Hermione had too.
As I mentioned you get sorted into one of the four houses, you can earn points for that house, you can duel, learn spells, make potions - you live and breath the Hogworts world. And all through your computer screen.
Because it's online, you can verse and meet people from all over the world - of course you don't know who they really are (you get a username, picked out, which detatches who you are, from that in the game).
You have your houses common room, where you can view your houses leader board - so, who in your house has earnt the most points for example. You can also go into the Great Hall, which you can look at the houses leaderboard.

But not a Harry Potter fan? They take you through each chapter of the book - so you never feel like you don't know what is going on, or how to do stuff.
It's extremely close to the books, so I would suggest if you want to get into the Harry Potter phenomenon, you read the books first.
However, if you just want to get into this kind of gaming experience, then you should check it out as well.

So, I've only just begun my journey; I chose a brown owl as my pet, my wand is made of dogwood (or something like that) and the house I was put in was Ravenclaw.
I have no doubt, as I get used to the game and how it works, the more addictive the game will become.
But for now, I'm only a newbie, and I'm still getting used to the whole experience.
But as a serious Harry Potter fan - I'm sure I'll love every step of the way.