The Waitin’ for Beta Blues

By Shayalyn

It’s said that
good things come to those who wait. I’m waiting, and I’m expecting good things,
but I can’t really say much for my level of patience these days, because it’s
degrading exponentially.

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Not that I have a choice, mind you. It’s been close to three months since Vanguard’s developers announced the first phase of beta, which they refer to as Beta 0. (We pause now for a reverent moment of silence and awestruck wonderment.) At the Vanguard forums, the natives appear to be getting restless as topics have been explored and re-explored ad nauseum. And yet, while our
patience wanes, we have no choice—Vanguard will be ready when it’s ready, and no
sooner. And this is the way most of us grudgingly agree it’s gotta
be.

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So, what does
one do while waiting for beta? I’ve discovered a few pastimes that have kept me
at least somewhat occupied in-between scanning the Vanguard forums and fan sites
for tidbits of information. I’ll share them with you, in case you need some help
coming up with your own ideas for quelling the waitin’-for-beta blues.

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Play The Sims 2

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Okay, I know
it’s girly, but I have to admit The Sims manage to help me pass the time more
than anything else out there. First of all, it’s a single-player simulation game
and not a MMOG, so playing The Sims doesn’t constantly remind me of what I’m
missing on the online gaming front

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Second, I can
make my Sims lead interesting lives that would rival any soap opera, and it’s at
least momentarily intriguing. I’ve got vampire Sims (thanks to the new Nightlife
expansion), werewolf Sims (my own fuzzy-faced creations), and my own urban dark
side that includes a Chinese restaurant called Lee Ho Fooks and even a Trader
Vic’s, where vampire and werewolf alike can flaunt their perfect hair while
sipping pina coladas. And I’ve got family feuds going on that would make Richard
Dawson blush crimson. It’s all very seedy and spectacular. Alert the National
Inquirer for me, please.

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Mope Around EverQuest

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I’m back in
EverQuest Live (which we lovingly refer to as EQ 1). This has been my second
option while waiting for Vanguard beta, or at least some news coming down from
Sigil’s holy mountain. There’s nostalgia in playing EverQuest, which appeals to
me, and in my opinion it’s still the best MMOG out there, or at least the most
engaging. Many of my old friends are back in the game, which doubles the fun.
They’ve tried other games, been left cold, and now they’re like me, pacing
restlessly around Norrath like tigers in cages, waiting for some game company to
finally throw them a juicy steak.

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Write

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If I can’t play Vanguard yet, at least I can write about it. There’s not a lot to write about at the moment, but it’s still good clean fun.
There are plenty of gaming sites out there looking for content, and since I’m
regularly spewing verbiage on the Vanguard forums, as well as on my guild’s
message board, I might as well turn it into something useful, right? (Keep in
mind, however, that “useful” is a relative term.)

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If any of you
out there are inclined to pass the time writing about the game you’re
anticipating, you can do what I did and join the ranks of Vanguard @ Ten Ton
Hammer’s writing staff. I can assure you it’s a good place to be when your
Vanguard anticipation-anxiety level is at an all-time high.

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Have a Life

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I know, I
know—easier said than done. But honestly, life is calling. What better time than
those between-game doldrums to seek out some real-life adventures? For many of
us, the change of season is bringing autumn colors, harvest festivals, apple
cider, burning leaves and all the good things that come with fall. And let’s not
forget preparations for the annual ritual in which we send our children, or any
small people we know, out into the wild to forage for the candy we will
inevitably filch when their little backs are turned.

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So, get
outside. Take a walk. Smell the air. There really is a world out there, and it’s
not always as bad as CNN makes it out to be. Give your eyes a break from the
strain of monitor glare. Turn your complexion from sickly-pale (and slightly
greenish, I’ve been meaning to point that out to you all) to a nice rosy hue of
good health. Play Frisbee with the dog. Play catch with your kids or the
aforementioned small persons. Get down on your hands and knees and draw a map of
Telon on the asphalt with sidewalk chalk. It’s all good clean fun. Who
knew?

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When all is said and done, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I won’t be adventuring in Telon in the near future, and all the wheedling and pining in the world won’t make Vanguard come to me sooner. Do I still make futile pleas for attention in hopes of scoring a spot in beta somewhere in the future? Of course; isn’t it obvious? But I’ve come to terms with the idea that there are many ways to wait things out without succumbing to such nauseating tactics on a regular basis.

No, really!

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