Nandini

@edgecrusherO0 From the posting, it doesn't sound like anyone was laid off. Instead, it sounds like the development team was reassigned to work on consulting projects that were at least generating some revenue.

The incredible score of Chance Thomas is exactly what has been missing from recent expansions. I'm very excited to hear that he will be making a return, and that additional choral work will be involved, too.

@jimr9999us Actually, one of the two remaining players left due to the stigma associated with F2P titles.

Don't mistake this as a sign that Heatwave will invest any more resources in the title. They're just trying to sell off physical inventory and hope to recoup the loss with a few extra digital sales.

A subscription was never necessary for this game in the first place, as it features less than a month's worth of content.

I'm dismayed that yet again, Turbine is adding a new game system (the Instance Finder) in what will be a relatively limited version.

Turbine's excuse for releasing it now is that they want to see how players will use it. But isn't that what their vaunted "Isengard Private Preview Program" is for? By releasing it now, they will only be able to gather data on the features that are already implemented, and not compare that to the features that remain in planning.

I would much prefer that Turbine delay this game system until it can be released in a more finished state. Otherwise, I fear it may go the path of other half-implemented game systems that were never finished or expanded upon.

@JuliusSeizure

I was merely following the previous argument to a logical (if absurd) conclusion, using a contrary example that lent itself to a humorous play on words. (Yes, I'm a guy. And as you can clearly see, sometimes I'm an asshole.)

I don't blame the author for coining the term "Girlfriend Syndrome" as it relates to gaming, since it's been around since at least the late 1990s ( http://www.magespace.net/rat/female.html ). I just think there may have been better alternatives than perpetuating it.

@Azules

And just because colorectal cancer is more common among men doesn't mean we call it asshole cancer.

@Brianna Royce

You go, girlfriend!

I'm glad you recognize that the archetypical case study for this syndrome is the girl who struggles to catch up with her man, or the man who has to sacrifice his prowess to boost his girlfriend's self esteem.

We men will be waiting for you at the finish line when you get there.

If you had called this "Sidekick Syndrome" I might have been more inclined to take you seriously. What's that? Oh, 1980 called and they want their sexist gamer stereotype back.

I was also confused to see an article talking about copyright, which applies to the visible or audible content of a published creative work.

Game companies own tons of patents, which cover the various technical and logical processes behind their games, and they constantly fight about them. This column would have been an excellent opportunity to talk about patent litigation and how it affects some of our favorite games.

Is his name Michael or Chris? You say one thing in the headline and another in the article.

The linked source says Chris.