Welcome to VideoGamer.com Plays, our weekly feature where we give you the inside track on what's been whirring in our disc drives this week. We'll be honest (so if we've been playing Superman on the N64 we'll tell you). But if we've been hammering the latest billion-selling blockbuster we'll let you know about that too.
Tom Orry, Editor - World of Warcraft, PC.
What I swore would never happen has happened. I've succumbed to peer pressure and entered the world of Azeroth. While I've been playing for no more than four hours I've already become somewhat addicted. It's not that I want to stop what I'm doing to play WoW; I just seem to be thinking about it quite a lot. The problem is that when thinking about it, I can't seem to see past the many problems I have with the game. These mainly stem from a session on Thursday night in which I discovered that birds of the same species apparently don't all have talons. Over an hour killing these birds to find four damn talons isn't my idea of fun. Still, I'll definitely be playing again this weekend.
Wesley Yin-Poole, Deputy Editor - Age of Conan, PC.
This week, during a trip to Oslo, Norway, I got some serious hands-on time with Age of Conan, Funcom's upcoming fantasy MMO. Now I'm saving my impressions for the preview, which you'll see on VideoGamer.com soon, but I will reveal this: it's bloody. Very, very, bloody. One execution move, from the barbarian class (what else?) sees you slice your opponent's neck, stick your sword straight through their skull, twist the head off then use your foot to slide it off your blade. Nice.
James Orry, News Editor - World of Warcraft, PC.
So I took my first steps as a Tauren shaman this week. I've never really felt the need to enter the world of The World of Warcraft, but with apprehension I signed up along with the rest of the VideoGamer.com team - some new to the game like me and others complete WoW veterans. My Character, Hornstar, a Tauren Shaman, looks the business, but WoW veteran Wesley reckons I'll be politely asked to change my name to something a little more family friendly. So after two evenings of slaughtering all sorts of animals I'm up to level 7, but I can't say I enjoyed getting there. Still, I'm promised the game does get more exciting than this.
Will Freeman, Staff Writer - Bee Movie Game, Xbox 360.
Though it hasn't consumed my life in the same way that Super Mario Galaxy or CoD4 did, I've rather enjoyed Bee Movie Game this week. It's a little embarrassing for a full time games journalist and consummate professional (possibly) to admit they've really enjoyed a film-licensed game for children that has almost no credibility, but I have. Playing it instead of the latest FPS feels something like opting for a kid's picture book instead of the front-page news as you sit down for breakfast, and that's been a particularly nice sensation. So, I'm just off to... er... play something really hardcore. Honest.
Simon Hunter, Associate Video Producer - World of Warcraft, PC.
Here's a scary figure for you - since World of Warcraft started way back in April 05, I have spent just over £80 on my subscription and add-on. Now I'm not really a hardcore player at all - I just pick it up every few months for a quick session - but it made me realise that many hardcore players who have been grinding non-stop since launch (and there are plenty of them) have potentially paid about £300 on one game! Of course you forget this (as did I) as soon as you log in, because even now after 30-something months, it's still so much fun! My latest character is an undead female priest called Stiffany. I don't know how long this stint is going to last, but with the rest of VideoGamer.com on board, I'm sure good times await!
