Genda

MMO community connection:

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The Grouchy Gamer

Chapter 1: Introduction

What is your name (your online persona/alter-ego, what have you)?

Everyone knows me by Genda, although my first name is Paul. I picked it up when i started playing EQ. I hit the random name generator, it suggested Gendan. It was taken, so I dropped the “n” and Genda was born. It was my first RPG and I really had no idea how to come up with a name.

What is your connection to the gaming/blogging/podcasting community (your chance to plug yourself here)?

I started out online when Sigil was choosing fansites for Vanguard. They were going to do an official “Affiliate” program, and I decided that it was something I could do. I thought I’d pick up some help along the way, which I did, but it was mostly me running the site. That site is VanguardCrafters.com. I was going to do a lot more with the site, but as it was coming out of my pocket and the game wasn’t developing into what most of us hoped for, I decided to keep it as it is, which is pretty much in its pre-release form. During that time, I started blogging because I wanted a place where I could post opinion pieces outside of the “official” fan site. That blog has been going since late 2005 as thegrouchygamer.com. Because, well, I am. Still have both of those sites up and running. I also operate casualtiesguild.com because no one else in the guild is stupid enough to volunteer to do it.

Please take a minute and describe what your blog/podcast is about.

When the blog first started, it was mostly about Vanguard stuff and general MMO commentary. It became a LOT about Vanguard when the fit hit the shan over at Sigil in May of the following year. I was afraid the blog was going to become a “Bash-Sigil and McQuaid” site, so I consciously moved it into a different direction. My time doing the official site had given me access to more and more people in the industry, so I tried to incorporate their perspective with mine, sometimes agreeing but mostly not.

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I was born and grew up in Southern California. I don’t really miss it. Well I do miss going to Angels and Lakers games.

Where do you live now?

Austin, Texas. It’s a long story.

Your level (age) is somewhere in the range of (pick one): 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90

51-60 Working on leveling this character though.

What do you do for a living?

I sell computer bits, large and small.

If you could reroll your career, what would you be?

Actually, still in the computer business, but on the IT manager/director/CIO path.

List five random things most people don’t know about you.

• I’m not a bad dart player. Pretty good at Foosball too.
• I met my wife playing an MMO.
• I’m a big Baseball fan.
• I’ve traveled extensively in a previous position. All over North America, to Hawaii, and to a few places in Europe.
• I’m taller than you.

Feel free to discuss any family you have here.

Gotta keep something private. I have 3 kids, all still in school. I think that’s all I want to say.

Chapter 2: Origins

What kind of games (if any) did you play as a child before you got into video gaming? Did you play with family, friends or was it more of a solo activity?

My gaming was mostly relegated to board gaming and puzzle gaming before the electronic bug struck. I was a FIEND for Mouse Trap, not because the game was good (it wasn’t) but because of the Rube Goldberg device that was part of the mechanism. A couple decades later I found myself just as enthralled with The Incredible Machine on the PC. I tended to play games with mostly family when I was a kid.

What other hobbies and/or activities did you have as a child (sports, music, etc)?

I played a lot of sports (mostly baseball and basketball. Played some football later. All team sports), did model rockets, and loved table tennis. I was very competitive so no one would play with me but my dad, and he tired when I started beating him consistently.

Were you ever exposed to pen and paper role playing games? What was that experience like?

I never was. I know. I was deprived.

Did you read much as a child? If so, what did you like to read (books, comic books, etc?) Please list some favorite authors, titles, etc.

I read voraciously as a child, but mostly non-fiction. By the time I was in 4th grade I had read the World Book Encyclopedia cover-to-cover (all 20-some volumes.) To this day, my head is full of useless information. I later got into some select fantasy. Like many, it started with Tolkein.

Would you say that any of these games or books had an effect on your later appreciation of computer gaming and ultimately MMOs? Please explain.

No, I think my MMO involvement came mostly from my playing games in general, and some RPG’s in particular.

How were you fist introduced to video games? How old were you? What was the platform?

I first played video games on an old console, and I honestly don’t remember which one it was. This is a sure sign that I’m getting really old.

Did you ever play coin-op games at the arcade? What was that experience like?

Oh, yeah. Many a quarter dropped from my fingers into obscurity in the name of standing at the box and gaming. I played a lot of these games the same way I played everything else. By the time I got a little older, I had learned to tone down the outward signs of my competitiveness so I could find some people to play with me. Played a LOT of pinball and quite a bit of Asteroids, Missile Command, and Mortal Kombat.

What was the first video game you can remember playing that really made an impression on you? Please explain.

When I got my first computer in the mid-80’s it was a Mac. I got a game, Wizardry, I think it was, that totally captured my imagination. I made maps on graph paper, played WAY too late at night, and really learned to love the genre. Before that, there were tons of console games I loved, but never anything like that.

What gaming consoles have you owned in the past?

Coleco Vision, Atari 2600, TurboGrafx 16, NES, N64, Genesis, SuperNintendo, Intellivision, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Game Cube, Wii, XBox, Xbox360, and some others I’m sure I forgot.

Feel free to share a story related to your gaming experience as a child.

I remember doing some of what I would consider gaming with a friend at school.  He had a playroom that was huge at his house and we set up a slot car track. We spent hours tweaking our cars trying to make them go faster or stick to the track better, then would race each other for hours on end. I loved the competition and the little cars flying around the track. Still think about those days to this day.

Chapter 3: Online

Were you ever exposed to MUDs?

I wasn’t. Like Pen and Paper, I somehow missed that era.

What was your first MMO experience?

Like a lot of you, Everquest was my first. I started in early 2000, introduced by some friends that I played foosball with. Once I started, I was hooked. I couldn’t believe how rich the content was and how many things there were to do. I also really liked how what you did had consequences. If you died, you had to go find your body or you lost your stuff. That was cool back then.

If possible, list all the MMOs you’ve played extensively.

EQ 61 Druid, Lineage II 33 Archer, SWG Master Architect, World of Warcraft 66 Shaman, City of Heroes 30 Controller, City of Villains, Everquest II 36 can’t remember what the SK is called, Vanguard (don’t get me started, trust me,) LotRO, Tabula Rasa, EVE, Age of Conan, WarHammer 30 Squig Herder, and World of Warcraft again. Also leveled a Lock, Mage, and Priest in WoW.

What is your current MMO of choice, or perhaps, what are your current MMOs of choice?

Playing World of Warcraft – Horde on a PVP server.

Which MMO have you spent the most time playing? How long would you say that has been?

It’s close between EQ and WoW. I may have more total time in WoW because I have Altitis so bad. I’ve leveled a LOT of different characters there. On my main in EQ, he was retired pretty much right after the level cap was raised for PoP with around 100 days played. My current WoW main is right at 56 days played. About 35 of those days were played when he was capped at 60.

Have you reached level cap in any MMO? If so, which ones?

See above. EQ and WoW when the level caps were 60 on each.

Loki taps you on the shoulder one day to inform you that you have fallen victim to one of his elaborate pranks. The world you’ve been inhabiting of countless MMOs to choose from and play has merely been a dream. In reality only one MMO exists. After laughing at you for a bit he decides to take pity on you and allows you to choose which MMO will remain. Which one would you choose and why?

That’s hard. I could play the “what could have been” game and say SWG for it’s potential, but the game just didn’t support that. EQ was so important for it’s time, but that has passed. I’d have to say WoW, because then I’d be sure to have plenty of people to play with.

Are there any MMOs currently in development that you are particularly interested in? Please explain.

The Copernicus project at 38 Studios is really the only one holding my attention at all at the moment. I am a little disillusioned with the state of game development at the present time, and I am really hoping these guys can do something different.I like what I hear from Shwayder and Moorgard, but I’ve fallen for smooth talking and cheap wine before. I’m also a little piqued by what Blizzard might be working on.

Feel free to share an interesting or amusing anecdote related to your MMO gaming experience.

Where is Burned Woods this week? This isn’t my work, but trust me, and if you are an MMO fan, this is a MUST read. Some EQ acronyms are worth finding out about to understand the story. I wish I could take credit for this one.

Chapter 4: Preferences

At your peak, how much time per week would you say you spent gaming? How about now?

About 40 hours. That was during my EQ raiding days, and that was around a full-time job as well. Still today, I do about 30 hours a week. That’s probably peak for me these days.

When during the week are your regular play times?

Every night after work for a few hours, and most of the day on the weekends around events we have. Right now, we are fully engaged in gaming so it’s pretty regular. It’s not always like that.

Generally speaking, are you more of a social creature in MMOs (grouping to quest, joining guilds, etc.) or something of a lone wolf?

I tend to be more social, but I definitely have my lone wolf side as well. Most of the time, it’s me and Tarkheena duoing. We love playing (especially dungeon crawling) with others though. Right now, we just started back on our WoW Horde characters (who have been retired since BC came out) so we are leveling, trying to get to 80 so we can run with the rest of our guild. We’re not being crazy about it but that’s where most of our effort goes.

Have you made any lasting friendships through your MMO experience? Please explain.

Absolutely. Besides meeting my wife playing EQ, there are all kinds of people that we still keep in touch with and have for years.

Before logging into a game, do you already have a course of action planned out in your head, or do you just sort of do whatever you feel like once in game?

Usually we have something planned. There’s always a big goal hanging out there in front of us (right now, that is running 25-man Naxx.) To get there we have to level, so we know right now when we log in that we’ll be questing. There are times when we log in and ask “What do you want to do? But that is less often any more.

When playing MMOs do you tend to just play one at a time or do you take more of the smorgasbord approach?

I usually have more than one game going, which drives Tark nuts. Mostly I concentrate on one, unless there is a big new release out that I want to try out. Rarely any more do I do more than two though. Most of them are so demanding that there is no way to play that many effectively and have a job. Now if I could get a sponsor…

Do you tend to supplement your MMO gaming with other PC, console or tabletop games?

If I’m really into the game I’m playing, no. I tend to have laser focus on the game or task at hand. If it’s losing my interest, I’ll go to other computer games, then to the XBox or the PS3.

Are you something of an altoholic?

Yes. I have a main and usually a couple of alts that get a decent amount of attention. Currently I have a Shaman main (73), and a Mage (54) and Lock (46). Hmmm, guess I lean toward casters. My Mage doesn’t get much play time now that my wife has her mage to 75. Let her lose interest though and I’ll trot him right back out.

Do you find yourself multitasking while gaming (perhaps watching TV, talking on the phone, out of game instant messaging, playing another game, or even listening to a podcast)?

Always. There is a flat panel mounted on the wall where we play above the desk that is usually on, and I have another computer (I used to 2-monitor my box, but didn’t like the small performance hit, so I unretired a box for browsing and 2-boxing.) that is right next to my main gaming machine.

Do you find yourself having much MMO discussion off-line, perhaps with friends or family?

Any time I get the chance. Most of the people where I work now are not gamers (that I know of) so that doesn’t happen at work. Most of my guild lives locally, so there is an opportunity to get together every once in a while and we do.

Have you ever felt that you game too much? If so, how did you cope with that?

I’m sure I game too much. I don’t smoke or drink or chase women though, so I feel like of the possible vices in my life I’ve chosen one that is relatively less objectionable. Plus, it’s something my wife and I do together which continues to be a bonding experience for us.

Since you started playing MMOs, have you ever taken a break from the genre? If so, please explain.

Yes, from time to time I’ve stepped away. Most of the time it’s in the wake of a disappointing new game and me having the feeling that I wasn’t ready to go back to whatever I was playing right away. During those times, I tend to immerse myself in the meta-game. In most cases, the meta game is at least as interesting as the actual games themselves. That’s how anyone ever came to know who I was, otherwise I’m just another player like everyone else.

Chapter 5: Blogging

When did you first start blogging?

I started in the gaming community with a fansite. Talk about jumping in with both feet. That was vanguardcrafters.com, obviously a site for crafters in Vanguard. I opened that in March of 2005. As that progressed I wanted more of an outlet for my personal opinions that a fansite wasn’t appropriate for. So in November of that year I started my blog. I didn’t post much at first. Seems like that is repeating itself now. I’m currently working on a new site for an upcoming game. Evidently I AM a glutton for punishment. I’m also going to get my blog going again. No, really. For sure this time.

Why do you blog?

I never really thought about it. I started to get some things out of my system. That resonated with a certain audience, so I was encouraged to continue. It kind of made it’s own momentum from there. I still like thinking and talking about gaming. So that’s gotta be the main reason.

Do you have a schedule or some sort of routine you try and follow when blogging?

I used to. Sometimes that just isn’t possible to keep up though. When I’m going well I’m trying to write four or five times a week.

Is there some grind involved in blogging? If so, what is it and how do you cope with it?

Absolutely there is. Once something is scheduled it becomes a commitment. Commitments carry responsibility and responsibility can be a grind. I also am prone to writer’s block. Once that sets in, it can be a self-fulfilling prophesy. I can’t write well when I’m under deadline and uninspired. So I try harder, which leads to a block. Then I feel bad about missing a post… you get the picture.

By contrast, what do you find pleasurable about blogging?

I like all the interaction with people who have like interests. I even like the debates with people who think my ideas are total crap and fabrications. I’ve had a few of those, especially during the emotionally-charged Sigil-splat era. I really enjoy all of it except trying to do it when I can’t.

How many people offline know you blog?

A handful. Some of the guys I used to work with, a couple of my wife’s co-workers. The people in my current guild don’t know, and I kind of like that.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to try their hand at blogging?

If you are going to commit to your audience, make sure you have something to say and a real charter to fulfill. I have a particular way of looking at things, and that is what sets my blog apart from some others. Don’t be controversial for the sake of controversy, but don’t shrink from it either. Let your angst show. Try to be transparent and never lie. Be yourself, amplified.

What is something you know now that you wish you had known when you first started?

I wish I would have known about some of the cool software tools. I’m still learing about that and trying to update my blog. I also would have tried to set more realistic goals for myself.

Can you picture a future where you will hang up your keyboard and no longer blog?

Yes. I’ll probably always have a web presence though. If I’m not blogging I’ll have a fansite or something. I’m not planning on stepping away but I think I could if I were ready to do so.

At your funeral, what song(s) would you have played as your corpse is set alight and cast out to sea on a funeral barge?

Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin) – do the math, if you are a fan of obscure internet culture.

Aaron

MMO community connection:

Anyway Games

Chapter 1: Introduction

What is your name (your online persona/alter-ego, what have you)?

People either know me as Hallower or by my real name, Aaron Miller (or just Aaron).

What is your connection to the gaming/blogging/podcasting community (your chance to plug yourself here)?

Anyway Games. I’ve also occasionally written articles for other sites and comment often on others’ sites. I’ve been a guest on a couple podcasts. And now they’ve got me using Twitter (the beginning of the end, I’m sure).

Please take a minute and describe what your blog/podcast is about.

Anyway Games is about the design of games in general — more philosophy than news and commentary. It was inspired by all the design debates on Sigil’s forums in the early years of Vanguard’s development. So it began as more MMO-focused, but now it’s about all games. I’ve recently gotten into doing more reviews and developer interviews.

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I was born in New Orleans, and grew up here in Spring, Texas (just north of Houston). I’ve also spent a good bit of time with family around Mobile and Daphne, Alabama. I’m a Gulf Coast Southerner at heart.

Where do you live now?

Spring, Texas. It’s a little too much like Houston these days for my tastes. Too much city, not enough woods.

Your level (age) is somewhere in the range of (pick one): 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90

I’m 29. It’s no mystery (see my blog’s web address).

What do you do for a living?

Nothing regular. Music, college, and random jobs like helping a friend build patios or writing articles. I’ve started to make a bit of money off my site… hopefully enough one day.

If you could reroll your career, what would you be?

Rock star. It might happen. I’ve been making music for about 16 years.

List five random things most people don’t know about you.

• I’m about two steps short of literal insanity. I spoke about it with Pete once at Dragonchasers here. Generally, the more excited I get, the more I wander. I’m usually pretty calm and laid back, though.
• I can make music in any style. If I can listen to a song or two, then it’s usually not too hard figuring out the general style and adapting it to my own. I’ve got Irish songs, Spanish, Russian, metal, classical, 80s rock, country, etc.
• I’m interested in literally everything. I figure, God’s offered you the whole world, so why accept only a part of it? I try to find inspiration for game ideas in other subjects. Ultimately, everything’s ties together.
• I talk with a thick drawl. It doesn’t really match anyone in family, so I’m not sure where it came from. Too many John Wayne films?
• I’m a songwriter, first and foremost, but have only been to five or six concerts in my life. The glory days of rock for me are the early ’90s: Metallica, Ozzy, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Corrosion of Conformity, Skid Row, etc. I can’t wait for Brütal Legend! My last concert was Down.

Feel free to discuss any family you have here.

I have a close extended family (cousins, uncles… even 2nd and 3rd cousins, including another web junkie), but I’m the only regular gamer. We all gamed as kids, but I’m the only one who has more than a couple games at any given time these days. A cousin and I play co-op war campaigns in LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth 2 (with the expansion) when we can. The elder generation couldn’t care less about games.

Chapter 2: Origins

What kind of games (if any) did you play as a child before you got into video gaming? Did you play with family, friends or was it more of a solo activity?

The first Nintendo was released when I was only five years old, so there wasn’t much before video games. But I did play a lot of boardgames, card games, and complete puzzles with my large extended family. I still all of those with family on the rare occasions we can get together.

What other hobbies and/or activities did you have as a child (sports, music, etc)?

I’ve always played music and started creating it when I was about thirteen. I’ve played piano, drums, and guitar. I’ve also played every American sport besides hockey and golf. I spent a lot of time in the woods and at the beach. And my family traveled a lot within the U.S. for recreation (landscapes, museums, etc). I did a lot as a kid.

Were you ever exposed to pen and paper role playing games? What was that experience like?

My brother, cousin, I and few others played D&D for a couple years. It worked well since we all had vivid imaginations. It helped get us all interested in the fantasy genre of fiction.

Did you read much as a child? If so, what did you like to read (books, comic books, etc?) Please list some favorite authors, titles, etc.

I read a lot. Our parents required that we read books every week or month as soon as we were able. All sorts of stuff. I read most around middle school, when my brother, cousin, and I began our fascination with fantasy books. I’m the only person I know whose childhood thieving phase involved stealing books! In high school, I read more classics, like Moby Dick and The Count of Monte Cristo as well as poetry. My dad was a geologist and had a number of scientific magazines I liked to read.

These days, most of my reading is philosophical, theological, and political articles online. For fantasy, my favorite series are The Death Gate Cycle, the Shannara series, and A Song of Ice and Fire (is it finished yet?). For spy novels, I prefer Frederick Forsyth. For ghosts and horror, I like short story collections like Nathaniel Hawthorne’s or one of Victorian and Eduardian Ghost Stories, and books by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. For poetry, romantics like Shakespeare, Robert Frost and William Wordsworth. For philosophy, Peter Kreeft, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and Pope Benedict XVI… people who honestly try to understand why those they disagree with might believe what they believe.

My cousin and I have talked about re-reading LOTR soon, now that we’re so intimately familiar with its geography through LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth 2’s War of the Ring mode.

Would you say that any of these games or books had an effect on your later appreciation of computer gaming and ultimately MMOs? Please explain.

The fantasy books definitely peaked my interest in RPGs, as did poetry. Fantasy feeds the explorer’s hunger for new experiences and discovery. Poetry trains you to see things in a conceptual way and think beyond the surface of what you see. Together, I think they really helped to appreciate the development of characters and the construction of worlds.

How were you fist introduced to video games? How old were you? What was the platform?

As I’ve said, I was five when the NES came out, though I doubt my parents bought it until a year or two later… so maybe I was seven? Some of my favorite NES games were Excitebike, Master Blaster, Contra, and of course Mario. We had an Atari only briefly before that, but the only game I remember is Joust.

I also played some arcade games. And I played some DOS games like F-14 Tomcat, Bard’s Tale, and Descent. I have no idea how old I was at the time.

Did you ever play coin-op games at the arcade? What was that experience like?

I was a big fan of Golden Axe, Super Off Road, and the first Star Wars game. My cousin and I used to take about 10 bucks a piece sometimes to a nearby Hilton hotel’s arcade room.

What was the first video game you can remember playing that really made an impression on you? Please explain.

Mario Bros was the first game that sucked all my time. Not much to say about it, really. It was just fun.

What gaming consoles have you owned in the past?

I owned the Atari console. I owned every Nintendo console until the Wii, and didn’t care much for the GameCube. Some favorites through the years were Donkey Kong Kountry, Killer Instinct, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, and the Zelda games.

I only played a couple games on my friend’s Playstation, like Twisted Metal 2 and Resident Evil 2. The only game I remember keeping long for the original Xbox was Halo. Now I love my 360, aside from the reliability issue.

I’ve always been an avid PC gamer as well. Many of my favorite games have been on PC; including Diablo 2, Nuclear War, LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth 2, Deus Ex, and Neverwinter Nights.

I never owned a handheld, though I’m a big fan of the Simon game.

Feel free to share a story related to your gaming experience as a child.

I enjoy single-player games most these days. I did as a child as well, but I did a lot more gaming with family back then. We spent hours competing at Street Fighter II, playing Bard’s Tale cooperatively, or taking turns at Nuclear War. I love my family, so I definitely miss being able to game with them. Few play games often anymore. The only one I still game with regularly is my cousin, in LOTR: BfME2.

Chapter 3: Online

Were you ever exposed to MUDs?

Nope.

What was your first MMO experience?

I first played Everquest in 2001, shortly before the Luclin expansion. I didn’t care so much that I was playing with other people. I enjoyed it because there was such a large world to explore and so many character possibilities. I mostly soloed and joined small groups. I played to level 48, I think. It lasted about a year.

If possible, list all the MMOs you’ve played extensively.

• Everquest (Kunark and Velious): Hallower – dwarf cleric – lvl 48
• Shadowbane: Oske – minotaur barbarian, Fesk – shade warlock
• Star Wars: Galaxies (at launch): Dubaash – wookiee master creature handler, master ranger
• City of Heroes / City of Villains
• Everquest II

I’ve also played Asheron’s Call 2, EVE Online, Horizons, D&D Online, and others for only a month or two. I’ve beta tested other games that I never played when they went live. Since I’m an explorer, I try many characters in every game.

What is your current MMO of choice, or perhaps, what are your current MMOs of choice?

I haven’t played an MMO in years, other than some betas. But I’m looking forward to The Agency and Huxley.

Which MMO have you spent the most time playing? How long would you say that has been?

I spent the most time in Everquest and SWG. Everquest was my longest at about a year, because it was my first. SWG was my favorite, and I played that about 9 months.

Have you reached level cap in any MMO? If so, which ones?

Only in SWG, which wasn’t hard to do. I don’t like games that are drastically different at higher levels.

Loki taps you on the shoulder one day to inform you that you have fallen victim to one of his elaborate pranks. The world you’ve been inhabiting of countless MMOs to choose from and play has merely been a dream. In reality only one MMO exists. After laughing at you for a bit he decides to take pity on you and allows you to choose which MMO will remain. Which one would you choose and why?

Star Wars: Galaxies. Because there were no levels and equipment didn’t add many hit points, players never became superhuman. New players and veterans shared the same content. The non-combat animations and variety of strange beasts made it feel like a living world. There was so much to explore, and no barriers to exploration. My Creature Handler could wander into true wilderness (areas where few players journeyed) and tame animals many players had never seen, and bring them back to the cities to share. Every player’s character looked unique and had unique experiences. Basically, SWG sucked you into the setting and players could have true adventures — unpredictable and unique experiences.

Are there any MMOs currently in development that you are particularly interested in? Please explain.

The Agency interests me most, at the moment. The combat is real-time FPS action. The game allows players to switch styles and combat roles frequently, in response to group needs or impulsive interests. The comedy-espionage setting looks like a lot of fun.

Feel free to share an interesting or amusing anecdote related to your MMO gaming experience.

My most memorable MMO experiences were in SWG.

Once, I was sitting in a cantina with many others, listening to the music and watching the dancers, when a Stormtrooper walked in. Suddenly, a firefight broke out between him and a Rebel soldier. The music and dancing stopped as every watched the fight… watched the soldiers running around the bar and duck behind walls as they shot at each other. Finally, one soldier killed the other. The music and dancing quickly began again, and it was like it never happened. It was exactly like that cantina scene in the Star Wars movie!

Another time, my ranger stumbled onto a lair of narglatches (like demonic lions – scary and aggressive). He got down on his belly and spent the next hour or so slowly crawling down into the cave, occasionally stopping as narglatches walked by and growled. Finally, he reached the bottom and found the cubs. But when he tried to tame one, it alerted the narglatches to his presence. He got up and sprinted for the cave entrance, but died before he could get there.

That’s what made SWG great. Those were unforeseen experiences which few, if any, others experienced. My character’s story was truly unique… not just my customization choices, but what I encountered and how I was able to respond.

Chapter 4: Preferences

At your peak, how much time per week would you say you spent gaming? How about now?

It’s not unusual for me to spend over 40+ hours of a week gaming, though sometimes I don’t touch my games for days. I’ve been spending a lot of time on my console lately, since I’m enjoying a new game (FUEL on the 360).

When during the week are your regular play times?

No regular hours. Any free time is possible gaming time.

Generally speaking, are you more of a social creature in MMOs (grouping to quest, joining guilds, etc.) or something of a lone wolf?

Mostly alone. I sometimes enjoy small groups, but groups generally aren’t conducive to an explorer’s playstyle.

Have you made any lasting friendships through your MMO experience? Please explain.

No. My online friendships are mostly from blogging.

Before logging into a game, do you already have a course of action planned out in your head, or do you just sort of do whatever you feel like once in game?

I always play impulsively. Since I’m not an achievement-focused gamer, I take my time and don’t mind mistakes.

When playing MMOs do you tend to just play one at a time or do you take more of the smorgasbord approach?

I’ve never played multiple MMOs simultaneously. That’s too much money. Even beyond the money concern, I like to focus on one game at a time.

Do you tend to supplement your MMO gaming with other PC, console or tabletop games?

In the past year, I’ve done the vast majority of my gaming on my Xbox 360. There are many great games for it, and I prefer single-player games. I’m attracted to MMOs for reasons other than the social aspect.

Are you something of an altoholic?

Absolutely. As an explorer, I’m always experimenting and searching for new experiences. In some MMOs, I never settle on one character as a main.

Do you find yourself multitasking while gaming (perhaps watching TV, talking on the phone, out of game instant messaging, playing another game, or even listening to a podcast)?

Never. When I play any game, I like to be totally immersed in it.

Do you find yourself having much MMO discussion off-line, perhaps with friends or family?

Nobody I know in person is interested in MMOs. I haven’t played an MMO in a while, but I still discuss their design with fellow bloggers.

Have you ever felt that you game too much? If so, how did you cope with that?

Entertainment should never dominate a person’s life. Luckily, gaming helps me be productive in writing and music. It distracts me enough to let my imagination roam freely, and so ideas pop into my head as I’m playing. I should spend less time gaming, though.

Since you started playing MMOs, have you ever taken a break from the genre? If so, please explain.

I’m on break now. =P I don’t play any game because it’s an MMO. I play a game because it’s a good game. I’ve had my fill of all the MMOs currently out there, and don’t care to play one of similar design. Right now, I’m waiting for MMOs with more active and dynamic gameplay. I’m through with ability timers and enemies that stand still while I hit the same old series of skills. I’m through with taking the same steps every other player takes and pretending that’s adventure.

Jennifer

MMO community connection:

a

Girl Unplugged

Chapter 1: Introduction

What is your name (your online persona/alter-ego, what have you)?

Jennifer. I don’t have a consistent online name, so I prefer to use my given name. Some people refer to me by my blog title, Girl IRL.

What is your connection to the gaming/blogging/podcasting community (your chance to plug yourself here)?

I write Girl Unplugged. I am a lifelong gamer, albeit casually.

Please take a minute and describe what your blog/podcast is about.

Girl Unplugged is a general entertainment blog. My posts will focus primarily on games, movies, television, and books, though other topics might creep in. Having determined that writing about one MMO (like my old WAR blog) or one entertainment genre (games) is too limited, I started Girl Unplugged as a way to continue blogging without being confined to a single topic.

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Where do you live now?

I still reside in San Antonio, although I spent a three year period living in Austin, Texas.

Your level (age) is somewhere in the range of (pick one): 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90

21-30

What do you do for a living?

I am currently unemployed, although I fancy myself a “writer” and am a college student.

If you could reroll your career, what would you be?

I’m currently pursuing a degree in English, but if I could reroll that decision I would consider something like animal science.

List five random things most people don’t know about you.

• I have severe social anxiety.
• I used to be afraid of elevators and am still uncomfortable when riding in them.
• When I was a kid, I loved country music. I even met a number of country artists, because my Dad worked at a country music radio station.
• I once submitted one of my older brother’s poems to my middle school literary magazine, passing it off as my own. I wanted to be just like him.
• I have missed out on many “significant” movies. A few of the films I have yet to see include: The Matrix, Ghostbusters, The Godfather, Blade Runner, Pulp Fiction.

Feel free to discuss any family you have here.

The family I live with includes my boyfriend of nearly six years and my two year old dog. I have a large extended family, though: mother, stepfather, father, stepmother, older brother, stepbrother, stepsister, five uncles, two aunts, countless cousins, and three out of four grandparents. I also have a five year old sister who is technically my cousin but was adopted by my mother.

Chapter 2: Origins

What kind of games (if any) did you play as a child before you got into video gaming? Did you play with family, friends or was it more of a solo activity?

I loved to play board games, and “house” – a general term for playing pretend. My family didn’t really enjoy playing, though, so I hardly ever got to play board games as often as I wanted to.

What other hobbies and/or activities did you have as a child (sports, music, etc)?

I didn’t have any other hobbies when I was 10 and under, because my family couldn’t afford club sports or musical instruments and the like. In middle school I joined the academic UIL team, and when I was 11 I joined a Masonic youth group that I belonged to for nine years.

Were you ever exposed to pen and paper role playing games? What was that experience like?

I briefly played pen-and-paper games, though it wasn’t as a child. One game was Exalted, in which I only played one story arc. Later on I played Scion, attempting to take on the role of story teller. It didn’t go so well, as my social anxiety rendered me nearly incapable of reading through my prepared script. I have since concluded that I am not good at improvisation or role playing.

Did you read much as a child? If so, what did you like to read (books, comic books, etc?) Please list some favorite authors, titles, etc.

I didn’t read very much as a child, which is odd considering the affection I have for reading as an adult. When I did read, I remember it was mostly biographies in elementary school: Dolly Madison, Anne Frank, etc. I also liked Roald Dahl a lot, The Witches and Matilda were my favorites.

Would you say that any of these games or books had an effect on your later appreciation of computer gaming and ultimately MMOs? Please explain.

I don’t think they did. My appreciation for gaming and MMOs today stems from my enjoyment of video games as a child…but I guess I’ll expand on that in the next section.

How were you fist introduced to video games? How old were you? What was the platform?

My older brother had a Nintendo on which I occasionally played Duck Hunt. I was probably 5 or 6 at the time. Later on we got a Super Nintendo and we played a lot of Mario Kart, Mortal Kombat, and Super Mario Brothers. I loved playing video games because they offered me a chance to spend time with my older brother, whom I always looked up to and wanted to emulate. He often beat me mercilessly in Mario Kart and other games, being 5 years older and more naturally skilled, but I still loved playing with him.

Did you ever play coin-op games at the arcade? What was that experience like?

I think I played some Pac-Man, and I remember a Simpsons arcade game at a movie theatre we used to go to as kids, but I was never much of an arcade fan. When we went to pizza places and other locations that had arcade games, I preferred to play skee ball if it was available.

What was the first video game you can remember playing that really made an impression on you? Please explain.

I recall Mortal Kombat very vividly. I loved playing Mileena or Kitana, because they were beautiful and just as tough as their male counterparts. Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater 4 was the first game I actually bought for myself and didn’t just share with my brother or my friends. That was probably the day I became a real “gamer”, even if sports games are looked down on by some people in the gaming community. I say “real” because games became a hobby of my own at that point, not just something I did socially with my family or my peers.

What gaming consoles have you owned in the past?

I didn’t own a console of my own until four years ago when I inherited my dad’s PS2.

Feel free to share a story related to your gaming experience as a child.

When I played battle mode in Mario Kart as a child, I would sometimes play Luigi instead of Princess Peach (my usual choice). When I did this, and when I did something particularly evil to the other NPCs or to my brother, I would shout out “Ha, a loogie!” in a sort of sing-song voice. I didn’t know what “loogie” meant at the time, I guess it must have been my alternative pronunciation of Luigi’s name. Either way, I very vividly remember doing this almost constantly.

Chapter 3: Online

Were you ever exposed to MUDs?

I never played MUDs.

What was your first MMO experience?

I played City of Heroes for roughly a month or so in the summer of 2004. I enjoyed the experience, particularly the character creation, but it didn’t really hook me. Once I stopped playing (I was a freshman in college that year so I didn’t have much leisure time), I didn’t start up with another MMO for almost a year.

If possible, list all the MMOs you’ve played extensively.

Since my first CoX experience was so brief, I’m going to list it later, at the point where I started playing more extensively.

• World of Warcraft, Spring 2005 – Fall 2008 (with many long periods away from the game in between). Last characters played: 70 NE hunter, 70 undead mage
• Age of Conan, Summer 2008. Played a Priest of Mitra to level 30 or so.
• Warhammer Online, Fall 2008 – Spring 2009. Played a Rank 40 Sorceress.
• City of Heroes, Spring 2009 – present. Currently playing a lot of different characters while I try out all the archetypes, but my highest is a level 36 empathy/dark defender.

What is your current MMO of choice, or perhaps, what are your current MMOs of choice?

City of Heroes is the only MMO I am currently playing.

Which MMO have you spent the most time playing? How long would you say that has been?

I definitely played WoW the longest, probably a year or two years in total (the three year time line I mentioned above, minus the time I spent away from the game).

Have you reached level cap in any MMO? If so, which ones?

I reached the level cap in WoW a couple of times – three 60’s when that was max, then two 70’s when the cap was raised – and once in WAR.

Loki taps you on the shoulder one day to inform you that you have fallen victim to one of his elaborate pranks. The world you’ve been inhabiting of countless MMOs to choose from and play has merely been a dream. In reality only one MMO exists. After laughing at you for a bit he decides to take pity on you and allows you to choose which MMO will remain. Which one would you choose and why?

I would want to choose facets from various MMOs and combine them into one, but since that wasn’t the question…I’d have to pick WoW. I don’t have any intentions to go back to that game in the near future, but if I had no other options I’d enjoy returning. It’s endless “endgame” cycle and daily quest rotation means I’ll never run out of stuff to do, especially if Blizz keeps releasing expansion packs.

There are certainly things I DON’T like about WoW (obviously, since I’m no longer playing), but there’s enough content there that, should I have to choose among all the MMOs available for one I’d have to play forever, WoW would satisfy me.

Are there any MMOs currently in development that you are particularly interested in? Please explain.

I suppose I’m somewhat interested in Champions Online, but I won’t play it until they offer a free trial. Otherwise, no, I’m not following any MMO releases.

Feel free to share an interesting or amusing anecdote related to your MMO gaming experience.

Playing MMOs with my boyfriend is certainly amusing and interesting. He has an uncanny habit for finding game mechanics he can take advantage of and then riding them as long as he can. I remember in the early days of our WoW careers (back when you were rich if you had 50 gold), savory deviate delight, a consumable that can transform your character into a ninja or pirate or – at that time – buff or debuff you randomly, was a rare item. When he discovered how much he could make by selling the item, he spent hours and hours fishing for deviate fish in a particular pond and sold them on the auction house, netting us tons of gold. He had a similar experience with netherweave cloth. The cloth could be purchased cheaply on the auction house, turned into bandages, and sold to a vendor for a small profit (between 50s and 2g, depending). He did this repeatedly until he had made well over 200g from the practice. The man’s a regular snake oil salesman, I tell you.

Chapter 4: Preferences

At your peak, how much time per week would you say you spent gaming? How about now?

It’s difficult to say. I spent so much time gaming at the height of my experience that I basically lost track of time. When I was raiding full time in WoW…I’d say I probably spent somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-30 hours a week gaming. Now it’s much reduced, more like 10-20 hours.

When during the week are your regular play times?

I’m currently taking a leave of absence from college and work, so I can play pretty much whenever I want. Typically, though, I only play when my boyfriend is home, meaning in the evenings after dinner and on his two days off a week (which rotate).

Generally speaking, are you more of a social creature in MMOs (grouping to quest, joining guilds, etc.) or something of a lone wolf?

I play with my boyfriend most of the time, so I obviously am somewhat social. I’d say I tend to be somewhat of a loner when I’m not playing with him, though. Playing with him makes large groups and guilds tolerable. When I’m alone, I can’t stand being a part of a big group.

Have you made any lasting friendships through your MMO experience? Please explain.

I met a lot of people through my blog, which was focused specifically on Warhammer Online. As far as in game, though, most of my friendships ended when the gaming ended, like friends within guilds. I loved the members of my WoW alliance guild, but I didn’t keep in touch once I stopped playing. I did make one friend in WoW, a Dwarf Hunter from Arkansas (that sounds odd!), and kept a friendship with him outside the game for a while. Ultimately we didn’t keep in touch for very long after we stopped playing, but we exchanged e-mails for a brief time.

Before logging into a game, do you already have a course of action planned out in your head, or do you just sort of do whatever you feel like once in game?

Sometimes I’ll go in with a plan, if I have business to take care of: managing auctions, checking mail, etc. Sometimes Boyfriend and I will log on with a specific course of action in mind, such as playing a specific character duo or doing PvP over PvE. When I log on alone, though, and am not taking care of business, I am more apt to go with the flow once I’m in the game.

When playing MMOs do you tend to just play one at a time or do you take more of the smorgasbord approach?

I definitely prefer to play one at a time, and, with the exception of a month of subbing to both CoX and WAR, I usually do.

Do you tend to supplement your MMO gaming with other PC, console or tabletop games?

Not typically. Occasionally I’ll play a round of Team Fortress 2, or play a flash game, but mostly my non-MMO entertainment time is reserved for reading, writing, and watching TV/movies.

Are you something of an altoholic?

Not usually. I tend to try to get to max level with the first character I make. In CoX I’m more of an altoholic, especially now that leveling has been made easier with the AE farm missions.

Do you find yourself multitasking while gaming (perhaps watching TV, talking on the phone, out of game instant messaging, playing another game, or even listening to a podcast)?

I rarely multitask while gaming. I can listen to music, and sing along, but otherwise I need to focus my full attention on the game. If I have to, I can talk to someone on the phone, but I’m either paying much less attention to the game or paying little attention to the caller.

Do you find yourself having much MMO discussion off-line, perhaps with friends or family?

I talk to my boyfriend about MMOs a lot. In fact, I’d say about half of our chats deal with MMO discussion, whether it’s dreaming up new game designs or discussing our current gaming habits. I talk about it some with friends who used to play WoW with us, but we’re all playing different games now so it’s hard keep track. Sometimes I’ll mention the games to my mother, but that’s not something I’d call a “discussion,” more of an explanation of what I’m doing.

Have you ever felt that you game too much? If so, how did you cope with that?

Oh, definitely. It’s very easy for me to get “addicted” to gaming. My usual solution is to devise “game-free” nights. I reason that, if I can make it through a night without gaming, I’m good.

Since you started playing MMOs, have you ever taken a break from the genre? If so, please explain.

I took breaks from WoW and played no other MMOs, and took a break from MMOs between WoW and AoC and between AoC and WAR. The breaks from WoW were due to burnout. The break between AoC and WAR was because there weren’t any MMOs I really wanted to play at the time.

Chapter 5: Blogging

When did you first start blogging?

I started blogging in late January of this year. Since then, I’ve shut down my original blog and begun blogging under a new name, widening my focus from just Warhammer Online to entertainment in general.

Why do you blog?

I enjoy writing and I enjoy getting to share my opinion with other people. It’s a great ego boost to see other people reading your stuff and commenting on it (or linking to it, which can be even more ego-inflating!). When I was blogging at Girl IRL, there was also a feeling that perhaps the Warhammer game designers were reading my posts, which made me feel like I could potentially have an impact on the game.

Do you have a schedule or some sort of routine you try and follow when blogging?

Initially I tried to stick with about three posts a week, but these days I’m having trouble posting more than once a week. So long as I stick with that schedule, one weekly post or more, I’m content.

Is there some grind involved in blogging? If so, what is it and how do you cope with it?

There was definitely a grind when I was part of the Warhammer blogging community. I felt like I had to read all the WAR blogs to make sure I wasn’t writing on the same topic as someone else. I had to follow WAR news so my blog was up-to-date, had to play the game more often than normal so I had more inspiration. When I joined the WAR Community Promotion Initiative, started by Warhammer Alliance, it became even more of a grind as I had to link to other members weekly. I’m a perfectionist, so I never felt happy just leaving a link, I felt as though I needed to write a full description of the blog, so that added a lot of work.

My way of coping with it was eventually to just stop blogging in that community. Now that I’m blogging at Girl Unplugged, I don’t feel a grind at all. When it does start to feel “grindy,” that’s when I know it’s time to take a break or quit.

By contrast, what do you find pleasurable about blogging?

As I said previously, I love when others read, comment, or link to my posts. It’s nice to know that there are people consistently reading what I’m writing; that they think what I have to say is valuable enough to subscribe to my blog.

At times it can be cathartic, such as one of my first posts at Girl Unplugged in which I complained about the hubbub surrounding my WAR blog name. I felt like I was getting a lot of criticism about it from the community, so it was nice to have the opportunity to vent.

There are also certain things I can blog about that my family or friends might not understand. It’s hard to tell my mother (whom I speak to almost every day) that I’m pissed off because something terrible happened in a game, but I can post about it and get instant feedback and consolation from others who have experienced the same thing.

How many people offline know you blog or podcast?

My boyfriend knows, as does my mother. I believe my brother and my mother-in-law know about it as well, as they follow me on Twitter and I post links to blog updates there. One or two offline friends know as well, for miscellaneous reasons. So about 5 or 6.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to try their hand at blogging?

Make sure you really like what you’re discussing, that it’s something you’re passionate about and not just a fad. Avoid being overly critical about the subject, or else you’re going to get burnt out and wonder why you were playing that game/watching that show/whatever in the first place.

Finally, whenever and wherever you come up with a post idea – in the shower, at dinner, in the car – write it down immediately! I’ve had terrible mornings where I remembered that I had an idea, but I didn’t write it down so I couldn’t remember what it was. That’s just the worst, especially when you’re behind schedule.

What is something you know now that you wish you had known when you first started?

I wish I’d had the foresight to recognize that I couldn’t blog about WAR forever. If I had known that, perhaps I wouldn’t have taken a WAR specific domain name that limited me from writing about other topics when I eventually was no longer interested in the game.

Can you picture a future where you will hang up your keyboard and no longer blog?

I think it’s possible. At the moment I’m taking a big break from my regular life – no school, no job, etc. – so I have a lot of free time on my hands. And yet I still only blog once a week! So when I resume my normal activities, I think it’s very likely that blogging will become much less of a priority to me, enough so that I stop blogging altogether.

I’m a writer at heart, though, so even if I stop blogging I’ll probably still be writing and may even revisit blogging after an extended break. You never know!

At your funeral, what song(s) would you have played as your corpse is set alight and cast out to sea on a funeral barge?

I don’t think about what’s going to happen at my funeral. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have one as I’d live forever and never die. The only song lists that I think about are what songs I’ll have played at my wedding! I don’t know, I guess if I had to pick right now, off the top of my head, I’d say, “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. I’ve always loved that song. Who doesn’t?

Ysharros

MMO community connection:

a

Stylish Corpse

Chapter 1: Introduction

What is your name (your online persona/alter-ego, what have you)?

My real name is Isabelle Lavigne-Parsley (and I *still* haven’t come up with a decent pseudonym for that someday first novel). My far more important internet handle is “Ysharros” and has been for over a decade now, back when the internet was powered by hamsters and not weasels like it is today. It’s the name of a character I once created but mostly it’s a name that’s unlikely to get stolen or duplicated.

What is your connection to the gaming/blogging/podcasting community (your chance to plug yourself here)?

Last year one of my blogging acquaintances bit me and gave me Blogger-Rabies, which is a serious condition and very hard to cure, and led me to start up Stylish Corpse , which is where you’ll find me blogging most days. Oh, and I also play MMOs. My usual character is “Raging Altoholic.”

Please take a minute and describe what your blog/podcast is about.

Since I started the blog at the tail end of the Warhammer Online beta, SC started out as a Warhammer-ish blog, though it was never intended to be a one-game pony. Now it serves as an outlet for the deep and meaningful questions I ask myself about MMOs; as an armchair designer, I’m as qualified as the next unqualified guy. I’m still trying to figure out how much latitude my readers will give me in terms of subject matter. So far, they’re been very lenient.

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Chartres, France. My father is French and my mother is German, and I’m what most people understand best as a “UN brat.” I grew up mostly in Geneva, Switzerland, with stints in Brussels, Dakar (Senegal), Lyons (France) and Strasbourg (also France). I studied English and French Literature in England (University of Kent), and lived in England during the 90s.

Where do you live now?

In Texas, in the Unites States. It’s a long story.

Your level (age) is somewhere in the range of (pick one): 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90

81-90, but I don’t look a day over 40. I’d rather not look a day over 20, but there’s only so much face-creams can do.

What do you do for a living?

I’m a professional slacker. When absolutely necessary, I translate various types of documents for my mother’s company; she’s now based out of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yes, my mother has a much more glamorous, dangerous and exciting life than I do.

If you could reroll your career, what would you be?

I’d say Johnny Depp’s wife, but not only did Adele Caelia already beat me to it, another French lady beat both of us, so I can’t really throw too much of a tantrum (publically, anyway). Other than that… published and writing author. Or maybe an architect. Or a horse-breeder. Or a horse-breeding, house-designing, novel-writing renaissance woman. Sorry, was it only one choice?

List five random things most people don’t know about you.

• I’m female. This is becoming a little better known, but for years and years everyone but me, apparently, thought “Ysharros” was a male name.
• I can be concise when it’s absolutely necessary. (No, really. Maybe. If you threaten my life or something.)
• I like to fume at incorrect foreign language sentences or dialogue in books (and it’s almost always horribly wrong). Also, don’t get me started about the current usage of “phenomena” when the speaker (or writer) means “phenomenon.”
• I started, but didn’t finish, a Master’s Degree on Tolkien’s work, tentatively focused on his treatment of women in LOTR. That makes me a 2-time dropout, dude (first time was from business school in France).
• I’m extremely bad at spotting deadpan humour (when it’s properly done). This has been embarrassing on several occasions.

Feel free to discuss any family you have here.

How much space do you have? I’m married, no kids, hubby has kids who are grown and have kids of their own. I have family in something like half a dozen countries, most of whom I don’t see very often but who remain extremely dear to me. I lost my paternal grandfather last year — the last of my grandparents — and it’s still very hard to get over; he and my grandmother had such a large effect on shaping my life, and I wish I’d known enough to tell them that at the time.

Chapter 2: Origins

What kind of games (if any) did you play as a child before you got into video gaming? Did you play with family, friends or was it more of a solo activity?

All manner of boardgames, especially when I was visiting my tribe-sized family in Germany. I discovered an early aptitude for hide-and-seek and promptly had to give it up, since people could usually not find me. The usual pretend-games with other kids.

What other hobbies and/or activities did you have as a child (sports, music, etc)?

A little music, if repeating the same beginner’s guitar course for 3 years running counts. A couple of years worth of ballet, mostly to feed my mother’s nostalgia. I seem to recall playing soccer and running at school and loving a game we played in PE called “Pirates” — it involved making a sort of 3D obstacle course with a bunch of gym equipment (climbing bars, beams, mini-tramps, big mats, etc) and having half the class being the eponymous pirates chasing the other half as hapless victims on the high seas. Rule #1, don’t touch the floor! These days, that would probably get a school sued for reckless endangerment.

On the more cerebral side, my 5th grade teacher used to have us play a game remarkably similar to Trivial Pursuit. She had a bunch of questions on cards, and teams would take turns trying to be the first to answer them. It’s probably where my uncanny excellence at the Geography Triv questions comes from.

For much of my young and teen life, however, I would have killed or done worse to obtain a pony. In that, I suspect I’m no different from billions of other teen and pre-teen girls. I lived to ride, and never got to do enough of it (or indeed got my own pony). I did have motorbike though; guys dug that.

Were you ever exposed to pen and paper role playing games? What was that experience like?

I was exposed to them during secondary school (high school in the US), though I didn’t actually start playing until the late 80s and University. It’s through those game sessions that I met my BFFs, a half dozen people I will know for the rest of my life no matter where we are. From then on I played PnP solidly through the 90s, with that same group and other new arrivals. We played most everything under the sun, though a handful of systems were mainstays. The experience was so good I ended up co-writing a series of live-action role-playing games — where you stand around in costume talking about what you’re doing instead of sitting around a table talking about what you’re doing (politics- and backstabbing-heavy, light on the combat). I haven’t played much since I got to the States, but I still consider myself a PnP gamer.

Did you read much as a child? If so, what did you like to read (books, comic books, etc?) Please list some favorite authors, titles, etc.

My French family and my mother are all incredibly voracious readers, and most of my paternal grand-dams (the female side) were teachers; I was taught to read before I was 4, and encouraged to pretty much read anything I could lay my hands on. Books of all kinds and all genres, from Nancy Drew to The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and A Wrinkle in Time to the Hobbit and even Roots, as encouraged by my mother when we moved to West Africa; I was 10, and I’m pretty sure a great deal of it went straight over my head. I read a lot of comics too, mostly French ones (huge fan of the Yoko Tsuno series — Google it).

I still read like a termite eats wood. Favourite fantasy/sci-fi authors include William Gibson, Barbra Hambly, C J Cherryh, Ursula LeGuin, Sheri Tepper, Iain Banks. Favourite more mainstream authors include Sara Paretsky, Dorothy Dunnett, Andrew Vacchs, and the 19th century classics (Dickens, Twain, etc). I am currently not allowed to hit Amazon or a “real” bookstore without a responsible adult in attendance.

Would you say that any of these games or books had an effect on your later appreciation of computer gaming and ultimately MMOs? Please explain.

Yes. A widely-read mind is a more tolerant and imaginative mind, open to new ideas and experiences.

How were you fist introduced to video games? How old were you? What was the platform?

PacMan and SpaceInvaders – do they count? In the early 80s I was gifted my first computer (a Vic20) and pottered around with that for quite some time. While it was fun, I was very jealous of my friends with ZX Spectrums (81s?) because of the Hobbit game you could get for that.

Did you ever play coin-op games at the arcade? What was that experience like?

See above. They were fun, of course! At university (late 80s) we had some of those early “hold a gun and shoot at the screen” games that were fun too, though I wasn’t all that good at them.

What was the first video game you can remember playing that really made an impression on you? Please explain.

PacMan. It was in colour, it rocked, and you could turn the tables on the #(*&@ monsters and eat THEM. What more can you ask?

What gaming consoles have you owned in the past?

Err…. not much of a console person. I’ve had a PlayStation and a PlayStation 2, and I think that’s about it. Don’t burn me.

Feel free to share a story related to your gaming experience as a child.

I’m old enough to remember fairs and arcades as gaming experiences rather than home computers or consoles. I *do* remember kicking some wicked ass at the air-gun stand when I was about 9, and bugging my grandparents for more money so I could win an absolutely HIDEOUS green glass bottle that they lovingly kept and which I have probably inherited, now that they’re both dead.

Zonk

MMO community connection:

MMOG Nation

Chapter 1: Introduction

What is your name (your online persona/alter-ego, what have you)?

I used to go by ‘Dialogue’, but nowadays I use ‘whoisdialogue’ as a moniker in a bunch of spots. I’m also pretty well known as ‘Zonk’, a nickname from high school that followed me to my days at Slashdot.

What is your connection to the gaming/blogging/podcasting community (your chance to plug yourself here)?

I’ve been a blogger at MMOG Nation for about three years now, and for over a year I ran the super-awesome MMO news blog Massively.com.

Please take a minute and describe what your blog/podcast is about.

MMOs generally, with a focus on what I personally find engaging about the games.

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

Born in Chicago, IL. Grew up in Madison, WI.

Where do you live now?

Austin, TX

Your level (age) is somewhere in the range of (pick one): 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90

21-30

What do you do for a living?

Game Designer

If you could reroll your career, what would you be?

For more than half a decade, I’ve been fortunate enough to pretty much always be doing something that I loved. I hope it never stops.

List five random things most people don’t know about you.

• My favorite movie in a trilogy is almost invariably the second one. Empire Strikes Back, Attack of the Clones, Bourne Supremacy, Two Towers, etc etc.
• The very first MMO I played seriously wasn’t EverQuest (the first MMO I played) or Star Wars Galaxies (the first AAA MMO I played seriously), but A Tale in the Desert.
• I once dressed as a ‘mob’ from an MMO for Halloween. I wore a black vest and a skull mask, taking on the guise of a member of the ‘Skulls’ gang from City of Heroes. I affixed a piece of clear cellophane with the mob’s name to a headpiece so that I’d have a floating name over my head.
• My first portable system landed in my hands as a result of my ability to spell. I was in fourth grade and got sponsored in a spell-a-thon. A combination of invested relatives and the cogent placement of letters in proper order resulted in my coming out on top for my grade. As a result, I won a Game Boy!
• My favorite beer is the Belgian White Ale called “Blue Moon”. Yes, it’s not a microbrew, but I like those too. My favorite of those is the New Glarus, WI beer called “Spotted Cow”.

Feel free to discuss any family you have here.

I’m married to another awesome gamer named Katharine.

Chapter 2: Origins

What kind of games (if any) did you play as a child before you got into video gaming? Did you play with family, friends or was it more of a solo activity?

Before I got into videogaming, I was pretty much just into boringly normal stuff. Monopoly, Yahtzee with the grandparents, etc. My life as a videogamer began at Christmas of 1985. I was about 5 years old.

What other hobbies and/or activities did you have as a child (sports, music, etc)?

I was in little league when I was very young, and did very poorly at it. I was always much better at Mario and Duck Hunt.

Were you ever exposed to pen and paper role playing games? What was that experience like?

I’ve been a tabletop gamer since I was 10. I’ve played using numerous game systems, but my favorites have always been Shadowrun and D&D. Since getting out of college I’ve mostly been running games, and I’ve had the pleasure of running two ongoing SR games and three long-standing D&D campaigns since 2002. I just began a new D&D Fourth Edition campaign about a month ago that I’m playing with some friends via Skype and the Fantasy Grounds software.

Did you read much as a child? If so, what did you like to read (books, comic books, etc?) Please list some favorite authors, titles, etc.

I read pretty much everything I could get my hands on when I was younger. Some favorite books/series from my youth include:

• The Young Wizard Series (So You Want to Be A Wizard, etc..) by Diane Duane
• From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
• The Bunnicula Series by James Howe
• The Tripod Trilogy by “John Cristopher” (Samuel Youd)
• The Johnny Dixon Series by John Bellairs

Would you say that any of these games or books had an effect on your later appreciation of computer gaming and ultimately MMOs? Please explain.

An appreciation for imagination and weirdness is a theme that runs through a lot of the stuff I like to read. I’d say that ties directly into my enjoyment of gaming.

How were you first introduced to video games? How old were you? What was the platform?

My mother purchased a Nintendo Entertainment System for my brother and I on the occasion of Christmas 1985. I was 5 years old.

Did you ever play coin-op games at the arcade? What was that experience like?

Though I didn’t play in arcades as often as some folks (because of the NES at home), I definitely got in a lot of time there when the family was shopping. It was a pretty unique experience: the sound of the machines in ‘barker’ mode, the smell of the cheap pizza or uber-sugery soda. There were always older kids (teenagers) hogging the best machines, and my pitiful abilities at fighting games left me out of some of the best experiences those places had to offer. When I did hit an arcade, I tended to go for side-scrolling action titles that button-mashing would help with.

What was the first video game you can remember playing that really made an impression on you? Please explain.

The first game that really affected me deeply would probably have been Legend of Zelda. The sheer scope of the game, along with its real effort at a plot and story, were incredibly novel.

What gaming consoles have you owned in the past?

NES, SNES, Game Boy, PlayStation, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, DS, Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii.

Chapter 3: Online

Were you ever exposed to MUDs?

Yes. In the mid-90s, I check out a few MUs on local BBSes in Madison. I honestly don’t recall their names and didn’t spend too much time with them. A friend of mine got a bit involved in one of the larger ones that allowed player programming, and invited me to check it out. That was probably my first social MMO experience. He later told me a story of how he created a hat as a vehicle/room, jumped into his hat, and was able to essentially scoot around in it. His fun ended when someone put on the hat and effectively trapped him in the room.

What was your first MMO experience?

As with a lot of people, my first proper MMO experience was with EverQuest right after launch. Some acquantances were playing it in College and I expressed a lot of interest in the product. They let me jump onto the client and create a character. A Troll, I believe, which would make it my first MMO character. I only occasionally played EQ again on the very rare occasion I was over to their dorm room; otherwise I didn’t really play MMOs until I got out of college.

If possible, list all the MMOs you’ve played extensively.

I’ve played pretty much every AAA MMO released since 2002, so I’m not going to go into detail of EVERY game I’ve played. Here are the ones I’ve spent a lot of time with:

• A Tale in the Desert - I joined up sometime near the middle of the “First Telling”, and along with my wife made a pretty extensive encampment on a hill somewhere in (I think?) the Sinai valley. My mentor in the game made wine, and we’d go over to have tasting parties and hang out.
• Star Wars Galaxies – I was in-world on launch day, and actually had my very first character go belly up due to server issues. I played hardcore for about six months and since then have only occasionally drifted back to it. At the end of my six month run I had an uber-powerful Mon Cal Pistoleer/Master Tailor that supplied uniforms to most of the PAs on the Starsider server. In the current game mechanics, he’s a Commando.
• City of Heroes - I’ve played a Blaster named “Jacob’s Ladder” in the game since launch day. CoH and I have always had a very much on again/off again relationship, with my coming back to it every six months or so, usually just for a month or so. I’m currently playing CoH with the same group I tackled EQ2 with. We’re in our low teens with those characters.
• Dungeons and Dragons Online - I played a Cleric up to about level 5 or so at launch and then jumped ship. I didn’t go back again until last year, where myself and some friend adopted it as a weekly play target. We, likewise, only made it to about level 5 or so before jumping to Lord of the Rings Online.
• EverQuest 2 - I played EQ2 for about two minutes at launch before deciding it wasn’t the game for me. With the innumerable changes that have happened to the game, it became well worth revisiting as a target for a group of friends a few years ago. I played a Gnomish Inquisitor once a week for about two years or so, and made it into the high 50s. We’ve since moved on to CoH.
• Guild Wars - I’ve played GW on and off since launch day. It’s fantastic not having to worry about a subscription fee. I leveled a Monk/Warrior to 20 in the first campaign, dabbled with a Necro in the second, and have a level 20 Dervish/Necro that I’ve played in the third and the expansion.
• Warhammer Online - I’ve played a Warrior Priest up to about 20 or so, and have a Runepriest in her low teens. I’m not actively playing the game at the moment, though.
• World of Warcraft - I’ve basically had a live WoW account since launch day. I’ve leveled a Dwarven Paladin to 70, a Human Mage to 60, and my current main (an Undead Rogue) is within spitting distance of 80. I also have a Troll Priest in his 50s, along with a slew of fun alts (all on the Horde side). I basically don’t see myself ever closing my account at this point, though I’m not always actively playing it.
• Lord of the Rings Online - After playing a Hobbit Minstrel up to about 20 at launch, I set LotRo aside. In the last few months my podcasting buddies and I have been playing the game diligently once a week or so, and we’re having a ton of fun working through the group content. We’re now all about level 40, and really looking forward to Moria! I’m playing a Guardian named Grodomil, and I have a much-loved Warden alt sitting in her low teens.

What is your current MMO of choice, or perhaps, what are your current MMOs of choice?

Right now I’m playing three MMOs regularly. Ever week on Mondays I get together with the Podcasters of Bree to explore Lord of the Rings Online. On Thursdays I get together with the Shortiez, the same folks I played EverQuest 2 with, to play City of Heroes. World of Warcraft is the MMO I play for ‘me’, when I have some time to do so and feel like engaging in that sort of activity.

Which MMO have you spent the most time playing? How long would you say that has been?

In sheer in-game time, that’s probably World of Warcraft. As I mentioned above, I have leveled a number of characters into the ‘higher’ levels, though some of those higher level characters I’ve since deleted to avoid the temptation to play them. In terms of how long I’ve played a game continuously, that’d probably have to be EQ2. The Shortiez and I got together about once a week every week for about two years or so.

Have you reached level cap in any MMO? If so, which ones?

Yes. World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, and Star Wars Galaxies.

Loki taps you on the shoulder one day to inform you that you have fallen victim to one of his elaborate pranks. The world you’ve been inhabiting of countless MMOs to choose from and play has merely been a dream. In reality only one MMO exists. After laughing at you for a bit he decides to take pity on you and allows you to choose which MMO will remain. Which one would you choose and why?

I know it’s trite, but WoW really is the kind of game I like to play. I honestly wish that I’d spent more time playing WoW when the opportunity was available in past years.

Are there any MMOs currently in development that you are particularly interested in? Please explain.

Well, aside from my one-could-say overwhelming interest in DC Universe Online, I’m very keenly looking forward to Star Wars: The Old Republic. I imagine I’m not really alone there, but from everything BioWare is showing us it really feels like SWTOR could become my own personal WoW-killer.

Feel free to share an interesting or amusing anecdote related to your MMO gaming experience.

I have a lot of them, but most of them are really only amusing to me, you know? That’s one of the things I love about MMO gaming, how personal it is. A lot of people have been to the Mos Eisley cantina or IronForge, but we all have our own personal recollections of what those places mean.

Beau

MMO Community connection:

Spouse Aggro

Chapter 1: Introduction

What is your name (your online persona/alter-ego, what have you)?

Beau Turkey (real name.)

What is your connection to the gaming/blogging/podcasting community (your chance to plug yourself here)?

I co-hosted a podcast about the MMO called Ryzom, then moved on to Vanguard. Now me and the wife just talk about whatever game we want. I have been online and keeping a blog for years, posting about everything from touring with a band to playing games.

Please take a minute and describe what your blog/podcast is about.

Any game I want. Also, I try to avoid the usual subjects like “patch notes analysis” or “why I am bored.” I talk a lot about my role-play project and write a lot of fiction based on the games. I am an artist, also, and draw fan fiction better than a 12 year old teenager.

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

Oklahoma. Oklahoma.

Where do you live now?

Dallas, Texass.

Your level (age) is somewhere in the range of (pick one): 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90

I am 34 years old, and skinny yet slightly muscular.

What do you do for a living?

I eat stupid people.

If you could reroll your career, what would you be?

A bounty hunter.

List five random things most people don’t know about you.

• I am always aware of where my animals are at.
• I don’t want children. EVER.
• My favorite color is that color of snow on a moonlit night.
• I get migraines, and when I get them, I cry and I feel better.
• I have a large nose and I pick it when I get nervous.

Feel free to discuss any family you have here.

I have a family, yes. They are all very smart, mostly creative and pretty much useless.

RC

MMO community connection:

Grinding to Valhalla

Chapter 1: Introduction

What is your name (your online persona/alter-ego, what have you)?

Randolph Carter

What is your connection to the gaming/blogging/podcasting community (your chance to plug yourself here)?

I’ve just recently started this Valhalla project, and beyond that I don’t think anyone here would know me from Adam.

Please take a minute and describe what your blog/podcast is about.

I’ve done my best to try and explain what this project is here.

Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Tyler, Texas.  I grew up in Richardson, Texas…a suburb in north Dallas.

Where do you live now?

Sachse, Texas.  Let’s hear you pronounce that one.

Your level (age) is somewhere in the range of (pick one): 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90

41-50

What do you do for a living?

I am a cataloger at a public library.  Interesting job that.   I also order the science fiction and fantasy titles for our collection.

If you could reroll, what would you be?

I’ve always thought it would be interesting to work as a game developer, maybe for a company like Bioware or Bethesda.  However, I’m not one who works very well under pressure or with deadlines.  I’m sure I’d get fired.  Then I’d probably be a cataloger.

List five random things most people don’t know about you.

• I’ve lived in Texas all my life and have never owned a cowboy hat or boots and have never really enjoyed country music.  I just don’t go that way.  I do chew tobacco on occasion when I’m running an instance.  No I don’t.  I just lied there.
• Although I’ve spent time in six different MMOs, I don’t have a max level character in any of them.  Shame on me.  Thanks WotLK!
• I met my wife online.  No, not playing an MMO.  What kind of a person do you think I am?
• I have a man crush on Captain Feathersword.  So does my son.
• I was around 10 years old when Star Wars came out.  I went to see it at the theater even.  I was not blown away.  I’ve seen all the subsequent releases and have felt the same about each and every one.  In fact, I think the latter ones have gotten progressively worse.  Obviously there is something broken in me.

Feel free to discuss any family you have here.

I’m married to a wonderful, very patient lady and we have one 18-month-old son.  I also have an older mother and brother and two big dogs.

Chapter 2: Origins

What kind of games (if any) did you play as a child before you got into video gaming? Did you play with family, friends or was it more of a solo activity?

I seem to recall playing quite a bit of Monopoly and Yahtzee when I was younger. I also played a lot outdoors and games like kick the can, hide and seek, tackle the man, come to mind. My family was also big into card games (spades, hearts, even a little bridge), but I think where I really started to get into gaming was with Risk. I would play with several of my friends and we’d go for hours on end. I remember really getting worked up when someone was attacking me. I’d get nervous. My heart rate would go up and I’d start sweating. Fast forward 30 years and you’ll see me experiencing the very same sensations when I engage in PvP. It’s not exactly a pleasant sensation in my autumn years though.

What other hobbies and/or activities did you have as a child (sports, music, etc)?

I played my share of organized soccer, basketball, and about 9 seasons of baseball. I took a year’s worth of classical guitar lessons and learned enough to strum a melody all these years later.

Were you ever exposed to pen and paper role playing games? What was that experience like?

Indeed. I think it must have been the summer of my seventh grade year (we read “The Hobbit” in class earlier that year, so I was hungry for fantasy) when one of my friend’s older brothers introduced us to D&D. The two older boys would let us watch them play but refused to let us in on the action saying that we were too young and immature. We finally broke them down and were soon playing away the rest of the summer. I think I played pretty steady for about 3 years. Then girls came along and too many of us didn’t make their saving throw.

Did you read much as a child? If so, what did you like to read (books, comic books, etc?) Please list some favorite authors, titles, etc.

I really don’t think I got into reading until my 7th grade year. We read “The Hobbit” in class and that, as so many people have mentioned, was a life changing experience. From there I went on the Piers Anthony Xanth books and Stephen R. Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant series. I’ve never heard of H. P. Lovecraft though.

Would you say that any of these games or books had an effect on your later appreciation of computer gaming and ultimately MMOs? Please explain.

D&D had a huge impact on me. I started reading nothing but fantasy from that point forward. I switched from collecting Iron Man comics to Conan. Pretty much anything game related has involved fantasy in some shape or form ever since.  I don’t think I’ve ever really ventured outside the fantasy based MMO either.

How were you fist introduced to video games? How old were you? What was the platform?

I won a contest at school for selling the most spice racks. Well, my dad did actually. He took my order sheet to work with him and got a ton of people to place orders. The grand prize was a glorified Pong system with bonus rifle pack. I must have been in 4th grade at the time. So, somewhere in the neighborhood of 9 or 10. I seem to recall being able to point the rifle at the wall and still hit the moving target on screen. Impressive.

Did you ever play coin-op games at the arcade? What was that experience like?

I was pretty self conscious as a kid and having people watching over my shoulder while I was gaming wasn’t my idea of fun. If I could have had the arcade to myself I would have been in heaven. I think that’s why the console worked so well for me over the years. I could screw up to my heart’s content and no one else would be the wiser.

What was the first video game you can remember playing that really made an impression on you? Please explain.

I remember a friend of mine had an Odyssey 2 and he had a Lord of the Rings inspired game called “Quest for the Ring.” I remember getting very excited when I went over to his house. Just the idea of playing a fantasy based video game was enough for me. I seem to recall the game was something of a hybrid between a board game and video game, for it came with a game board and some playing pieces. Sweet, eh? Looking back I can see how rudimentary the game play and graphics were, but at the time it was like mana from heaven. Unfortunately my friend had played the game to death before showing it off to me, and I could hardly ever pry him away from his impressive collection of nudy magazines to play the game with me.

What gaming consoles have you owned in the past?

Atari 2600, NES, Super Nintendo, Playstation, Playstation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360.

Feel free to share a story related to your gaming experience as a child.

We had our own D&D group with a very lax DM who would let us get away with all sorts of things-murder just being one of them. Eventually we became ridiculously powerful and about the only thing left for us to do was start challenging gods and demigods out of the D&D pantheon. And that’s what we did. Well, there was this other group of D&D players who lived further down the street from us and one time we managed to get together for a gaming session. Their DM was ultra strict. One of their players was wielding a plain digging shovel as a weapon. Another was wearing a barrel for armor. No joke. Suffice it to say we had trouble finding a suitable adventure for our two groups to go through together. Their players simply couldn’t believe how decked-out our party was. I don’t think this sat very well with their DM either. Funny the things you remember…

Chapter 3: Online

Were you ever exposed to MUDs?

I remember watching over one of my roommate’s shoulders in college playing some MUD. His character was represented by an ampersand and the dungeon walls were pound signs. Eventually he came across a creature (I think it was the dragon) which was a dollar sign. At the time it was awesome. He never would let me play it though as he thought I might break his computer. Being the spineless person that I still am today, I was happy just to watch him run around slaying keyboard symbols for hours on end.

What was your first MMO experience?

That would have been Wow back in March of 2005. I had been looking for a copy of the game soon after launch and wasn’t having luck finding a copy anywhere. Eventually I found myself in a Game Stop looking for a game me and my buddy could play and I noticed a huge display of WoW boxes behind the counter. I asked the lady working that day, “Those are empty display boxes, right?” When she told me no and then asked if I would like to purchase one, I almost danced a jig right then and there in the store.

Oddly enough, however, I don’t think I was mentally prepared for what an MMO experience was going to be like. I think the first month or so of playing I pretty much stuck to a single player game mindset–never chatting with anyone or ever setting foot in the auction house. It took two of my closest friends to start playing to get me to start opening up more to the experience.

I sometimes regret not getting into MMOs back in the days of Ultima Online and Everquest, but I happened to be in a rather unhealthy marriage at the time which took 8 years to self destruct. I simply didn’t have the stamina or emotional well being to play video games at the time.  I think my second wife would say I’m making up for lost time now though.

If possible, list all the MMOs you’ve played extensively.

• World of Warcraft – Level 73 priest, level 72 druid.
• Everquest 2 – Level 36 necromancer.
• Vanguard – Level 27 hunter
• Lord of the Rings Online – Level 40 hunter, level 30 minstrel

What is your current MMO of choice, or perhaps, what are your current MMOs of choice?

Lord of the Rings Online

Which MMO have you spent the most time playing? How long would you say that has been?

That would have to be WoW. I’m thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 years.

Have you reached level cap in any MMO? If so, which ones?

At one point I had reached the cap in WoW, but then RotLK changed that.

Loki taps you on the shoulder one day to inform you that you have fallen victim to one of his elaborate pranks. The world you’ve been inhabiting of countless MMOs to choose from and play has merely been a dream. In reality only one MMO exists. After laughing at you for a bit he decides to take pity on you and allows you to choose which MMO will remain. Which one would you choose and why?

Although I can’t seem to bring myself back to playing WoW again, I’d have to say WoW. All of my real life friends are still playing there and I’m thinking if this were the only game around, I could find ways of keeping my enthusiasm up for the game.

Are there any MMOs currently in development that you are particularly interested in? Please explain.

I can’t say that there are. Although I’ve been hearing some nice things about Earth Rise. The only MMOs I’ve played have been in the high fantasy genre. I think I might enjoy a change of pace.

Feel free to share an interesting or amusing anecdote related to your MMO gaming experience.

The Story of plucky Patpen

by

Randolph Carter

I’m not much of a PvPer, yet at one point in my illustrious WoW career I found myself playing on a PvP server. All of my friends were there as well, and we were playing on the horde side. Anyway, one evening a group of five of us was questing over in Arathi Highlands at Stormgarde Keep and we ran across a lone hapless night elf hunter named Patpen. Seeing how he was of a similar level to our party, we made short work of him and then went about our business. Within a few minutes Patpen was back and began expertly exploiting his surroundings (remember, a good portion of Stormgarde is filled with alliance NPCs) and was able to take us all down rather painfully one at a time. We were shocked. This must have been a fluke and we all agreed to go back and teach Patpen a lesson. What should have been a 20 minute diversion ended up becoming a 2 hour marathon exercise in futility. 5 corpse runs later, licking our wounds we decided to call it a night.

By the way, adding insult to injury, his pet cat was aptly named HordeRaper.

Chapter 4: Preferences

At your peak, how much time per week would you say you spent gaming?

I’d say between 25-30 hours a week during my in-between marriage phase.

How about now?

Probably between 15-20.

When during the week are your regular play times?

I play pretty much every night, but during the week it’s usually only for an hour or two after my son goes to bed. Friday and Saturday nights I usually have an extended gaming session lasting until the witching hour or so.

Generally speaking, are you more of a social creature in MMOs (grouping to quest, joining guilds, etc.) or something of a lone wolf?

If I’m playing with friends I know in real life I will be more sociable. That means that in WoW I am in a guild and tend to group up with friends regularly. When I dabble outside of WoW, I generally go the lone wolf route. I have joined several guilds but never seem to do much grouping or other socializing.

Have you made any lasting friendships through your MMO experience? Please explain.

Not a one. And I’m not sure why that is, really. I’ve met a lot of friendly, helpful people online, but I just can’t seem to get past the initial acquaintance phase. I think I still have something of a single-player RPG mentality when I play my MMOs and don’t open up much beyond that.

Before logging into a game, do you already have a course of action planned out in your head, or do you just sort of do whatever you feel like once in game?

I usually don’t and I think that’s become more and more of a problem for me. More times than not, I tend to find myself staring at the screen once I log in wondering what to do next. There have been times when I’ve done a bit of planning before logging in and things tend to go smoother then. You’d think I’d learn.

When playing MMOs do you tend to just play one at a time or do you take more of the smorgasbord approach?

Generally just one, but I have juggled two on the rare occasion. It didn’t end up very well. I found myself spread too thin and with the limited play time I now have, it just doesn’t make any sense. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t like to play more than one. I just don’t have the time or the mental stamina.

Do you tend to supplement your MMO gaming with other PC, console or tabletop games?

I have an Xbox 360 I fire up now and then, but for some strange reason I tend to fall asleep when gaming on the couch. PC gaming seems to be the only thing that can keep me awake later at night.

Are you something of an altoholic?

I am and I wish I wasn’t. Invariably the first class I pick is the one I eventually end up leveling to any extent, but I always piddle around with alts at first to make sure I’m not picking the wrong character. I also start experimenting with alts just before I get to burnout phase in the game I’m playing.

Do you find yourself multitasking while gaming (perhaps watching TV, talking on the phone, out of game instant messaging, playing another game, or even listening to a podcast)?

I don’t. I even listen to in-game sound. On the rare occasion I will tab out of a game to look something up on the internet, but generally I like to have my gaming experience as immersive as possible.

Do you find yourself having much MMO discussion off-line, perhaps with friends or family?

I bet my wife wishes I’d shut up about my gaming exploits. She used to play WoW and we would go for long walks discussing strategy and the pros and cons of the game. Those were fun walks. Now, I pretty much just spew forth and she rather patiently listens. I always start off with, “Would you mind if I talked about such-and-such game for just a minute?” It’s never just a minute though.

Have you ever felt that you game too much? If so, how did you cope with that?

What kind of a question is that? Who comes up with this stuff?

Yes, I think I go through periods of feeling guilty about my gaming, but having read through others’ responses here who seem to be at peace with their gaming hobby, I think I’m feeling pretty good about my gaming again.

Since you started playing MMOs, have you ever taken a break from the genre? If so, please explain.

When I got married again I took a 6 month hiatus from MMOs only to return to the genre with wife in tow. I haven’t taken a break since.