First Beta Day...

It has been a fun couple of hours playing my favorite game again!  Although it is late here, I have been able to run into a few friends and see some new sights (not that anything new is added, but I never had a chance to do the entry quests before).  So far there are very few problems until I tried to travel to Rhubarb Island...thus I decided to take a little break and post some pictures of my beta adventures.

Leaving the Brink...

If you decide to play MilMo when the game opens for all players, this is the portal that continues you through the introductory part of the game.  

And then some friends!!!

Met up with Alinna right away!

A Welcome Back

It has been many long-awaited months, but our MilMo is back!  Well, at least in a trial beta version, but the chance to move around our world is possible again.  Will post more about what is new about the game, but for now I am going to explore The Brink (something I never got to do the first time around because it was added long after I started playing).

The Thing About Dreams

You know how when you first wake up in the morning and you have the moment, just that single moment, when you wonder if those pictures in your mind were just a dream or if you are simply waking up to a reality that you are still trying accept?


Such was the waking moments on Wednesday when the formal announcement that Junebud, creators and developers of Alia's favorite game, had declared bankruptcy.  That sheer sense of disbelief overtook me, and I had to keep wondering if I was still sleeping and have just a really unpleasant nightmare. But as the coffee was brewed (sorry Sara, I wish we could have that coffee together, one that does not bother your constitution), and I was able to backtrack through Twitter, the realization was that yes, my beloved game and its company were looking like they were both going to be no more a part of my life.


All day Wednesday and into Thursday, as friends and fellow players did their own wake up to the news, it was like reliving that bad moment over and over. My blog post on this subject was already writing itself in my head and yet, I still have not been able to fully process all I want to say here.  


But the the analogy of the post-dream moment would not leave me and so, for now, because I will probably post about this again, I want to talk not about the bad dreams of myself and all my friends and fellow players.  What I want to write about are the dreams of the crew about Junebud.  


While we are all distraught, what I have not been able to get out of my mind is what of the dreams of the developers that we have all grown to love so much?  I cannot even contemplate on their behalf how their dream, so full of great ideas and promise, is now lost for the time being.  It is not a death, as such a talented group of people will thrive in new places and in new ways, but as if they have to watch something that they nurtured wither away.  


While many game developers come and go, that very special something that was Junebud is a greater loss to the gaming community than others.  The reason why we are all so distraught on their behalf because what made Junebud special is that they made us all feel included.  Their vision and dream, our reality for a few short years, was that us the players were essential to what they were doing.  The most wonderful and saddest moments have been not so much that the future of the game of was in question, but when the entire community started pouring out with queries on what they could do to help the company stay alive only to be told there was no way to help.  Just to see that tells you all you need to know about what this company has been about and what it means to us players.


I still am unable to fully write all that I am feeling (look for a later post when I am less emotional), but it is with heartfelt emotion that I write this post for all the wonderful people I have come to know through this game: Sara, Ivan, Ola, Wicky, and for those of you I never knew, thanks for making something so unique that you know that its loss has left us with so much sadness, but also so much joyful memories.


Alianore

Alia's Reviews: Feeling Sinister? A New MilMo Update

Now the good folks at Junebud gave Update 51 a different name than my catchy post title...but the new content with this update lets those of the dark and moody bent express themselves with some pretty tough looking gear.  And it all begins with a little lockbox....

The Sinister Lockbox!

When I read up on this new update and started playing to see all the new stuff, I had exactly two thoughts:

• Someone in Sweden must have been listening to my prayers and decided to give us new converters...one of Alia's Favorite Things.
• There was some devilishly smart thinking behind this new update in that it goes a long way to address some of the complaints/problems as of late, but I will get to that later.

Minha Amiga

Being without the Friend List on MilMo has caused several grumbles among players for the last few months.  Now, I both miss the feature and am glad that we do not have it, but the reasons for that are too esoteric for this post.  However, one of the many benefits of being a game GM is our ability to find other players, and it is with great joy that I found my fellow partner-in-game and very good friend Vanny this evening!

 

Happy 50th Update!

Now that I have recovered from the spring semester, it is time to enjoy myself with my favorite game.  Luckily, just when I need it the most, there is a new game update!  Launched just today, players can celebrate Junebud's 50th Update, by getting another chance at the Sea Festival event from last year.  Being one of those players, I have already begun and have attired myself accordingly.

There seems to be a walrus in the pool at SeaStar Resort who
only answers to the name Morris.  However, he does approve
of my Tactical Pirate look to assist on completing his tasks.

Oh What Shall We Do?

There have been some grumbles, some questions, and even some interesting speculation about the lack of recent updates to MilMo.  Then before the weekend got into full-swing, the always helpful Sara posted in the game forum why we were experiencing the lack of something new to do.  Due to Junebud's development of a game for the iPad, known as Tuff Tanks, the developers are allocating their human resources to getting this interesting and fun looking game ready for release.  (I am still waiting for a hint that we may see this game in the Google Play store, but so far, mum is the word)

Making Up Your Mind: Should You Start Playing MilMo?

Attention all potential players of MilMo, have you accidentally come across this blog or have seen an advertisement for MilMo and are still undecided whether or not to give the game a try?  Not sure what the game is about and thus have delayed getting yourself started? 

Well, you know can get a better feel of the look of the game with the new improved Home Page for the game.  If you decide to give the game a second look, the new home page offers a great video showing a great snapshot into how the game looks and some of what you can do and find in the game.  

 

You will have to make a small download to get the Unity Web Player plug-in for your browser, but it is just a little thing!  Within minutes you will be playing and discovering the game that yours truly just cannot get enough of! 

Aunty Alianore's Corner, Volume I, Issue 5: Kidding Around

Fun and games often can lead to misinterpretation, which
can cause anger and other conflict.

A while back, I found myself needing to deal with a situation between a few players where an "inside joke" that was being bandied around in the game took a really bad turn.  What had started as playing around a long-standing joke led to anger and hurt feelings.  Through much discussion and investigation, the problems and animosity between the players was resolved, however, as usual, it inspired me write a little bit about player relations.

MilMo Special 90% Off Sale...Or, When There is Just Not Enough Money in the Bank

Just every so often, the wonderful people at Junebud make some of our Cash Shop dreams into realities.  This week, the Cash Shop is featuring a 90% off sale on EVERYTHING!  Like many players, my first thought was....Phoenix Wings!  And then what else?  Well, so far some mystery boxes that yielded some cool stuff for the home, and then I bought a few other decorative items.  But the 24 hour clock is winding down until the sale ends, so I need to make some quick decisions!

Found some Legendary Goggles in one of my purchases
Mystery Boxes, trying to determine if they will be a part
of my "permanent look."

Remember players, while this is a great time to get some new loot that you might have been salivating over for awhile...it is also a great time to buy a membership at a fantastic price!  Membership allows for more quests and access to a few exclusive locations in the game, so go ahead and grab one and I will meet you in the hot tub on the Yacht!

Guest Blogger: iiFlipii and Player Events

Due to my recent hiatus (I was sort of expecting it, as this is my crazy time of the year with work), I have been encouraging my game friends to help contribute to this blog so you don't hear the crickets too often when visiting.  So, without further ado...a message of something exciting from one of our GM's iiFlipii:

Hey guys! It's me Flip.  I finally decided to make a post here : D  What is the point of this post you ask?  Well I just might be planning something for you all.  I might be hosting some player events soon!  Player events are NOT official MilMo events.  They are just events run by the MilMo community!  Prizes?  None yet, but I will figure that part out easily : )

Stay tuned for updates here, on the Forums, and on the Unofficial MilMo FB group! 

And I would like to thank....

The strangest thing happened, for some reason I was nominated for player of the month!  No, really, it is such an incredible honor!  If you wish to read my interview, please visit the MilMo Dev Blog.

The Longest Two Weeks of My Life....

As some of you may have noticed, I have been noticeably absent from the MilMo forum, the Unofficial MilMo Group on Facebook, and on Twitter.  This has a great deal to do with the fact that life occasionally has that tendency to overwhelm you just a bit and those times you take to enjoy yourself...say to play your favorite game...do not exist for a certain time.  

Island Survey, Part I: Summertide Saga

In a continuing vein of thought regarding Junebud's brainstorming last week**, one of the Twitter queries posed was in regard to player thoughts regarding which game islands we did or did not like and why.  My response was that I think all of the the islands have both pros and cons, and that I needed to blog on the topic as Twitter has that nasty character limit that frustrates the hyber-verbose (yours truly).  Although the developers have probably moved on to other issues, I still want to put in my two cents....

Monday Fun: Hanging out with the Rockers

Just a short picture montage of some of my favorite people in MilMo...they looked so cute grouped together I had to stage photo shoot.

The Stairway to Heaven....

Happy Anniversary!

So today marks the one-month anniversary of All About Milmo...this is such a fun small achievement for me, I mean before I was married I dated people for shorter periods of time!


I will mark the occasion with a little something special, a contest with a free game giveaway...let me get a little rest and I will think on it and post later in the day.

Alia's Interviews: Trolling Lessons with the King

Since I decided to go public with my blog I started hounding my game friends to help out with guest blogging or other types of submissions...when that made a few nervous, the persistent Aunty A decided she was going to run people down to the ground and make them talk!  Some force was used, maybe a few bribes, and now results are starting to trickle in...


While I have the "Mother of all Interviews" to appear soon, I am going to start this blog segment with the "Son of all Interviews."  Victim #1: im ur king.


As one of the few players who have a working friend list at the moment, im ur king was able to show up to my "pad" (new phrase he learned from me today) where the grilling could begin.

Like any good gamer, im ur king was distracted by the
Retro Console so I had to get him back on track!

A Few of My Favorite Things, Installment 5: Event Reruns

One of the things that always makes me a little blue is the thought that I have missed out on something that everyone (or so it seems) got to see and/or do.  And for much of the time last calendar year, I was unable to complete some of the game's special events due to life circumstances, etc.

So empty!  The void in my medal count
is a like a void in my heart.

The Talent of MilMo Players

In the game forum and in Facebook's Unofficial Group, so many players show their love of the game through their creative talents.  I so enjoy the creative-types and their posts...mostly because I admire their talent but also because I could not draw a thing that would anyone would recognize if my life depended upon it.  


One of our group's most talented artists, who I personally refer to as "my Miss Kazey Kat" has graciously agreed to let me share some of her artwork with the greater internet community.  Look for my exclusive interview with Kaz in a later post, but for right now let me just say that she is  one of the best people I have made friends with in the game and I am one of her biggest cheerleaders in her quest to someday have a career in animation.

Kazey's MilMo avatar, Anime-style!
(Copyright Kazey J.F.)

Look for more of Kazey's art to be regularly shown here!

Can't Wait, Can't Wait...Can You?

Update 47...coming our way...


Video preview