Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Diagnosing and understanding Girlfriend Syndrome]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-soapbox-diagnosing-and-understanding-girlfriend-syndrome/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-soapbox-diagnosing-and-understanding-girlfriend-syndrome/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-soapbox-diagnosing-and-understanding-girlfriend-syndrome/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

AREN'T YOU HAVING SO MUCH FUN SWEETIE?!
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

You see them more often than you probably want to admit. They're remarkably easy to spot, most often lower-level characters dressed in the best possible equipment, limply following behind higher-level characters like some sort of ersatz satellite. When you talk to them, they give short answers before the higher-level characters answer everything. You see them trudging along, going through the motions, but not showing any signs of interest.

You've witnesses someone suffering from Girlfriend Syndrome.

Girlfriend Syndrome is a disease that affects any number of people worldwide, and it is thankfully wholly curable. But in order to cure this debilitating ailment, you have to understand why people suffer from it, what can be done for them, and whether or not in-game euthanasia is really the best option. Girlfriend Syndrome, you see, is not airborne; it's transmitted, willingly, by someone who already has the gaming bug.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Diagnosing and understanding Girlfriend Syndrome

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Diagnosing and understanding Girlfriend Syndrome originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bartlett-typescultureenjoymentfeaturedfungirlfriend-syndromehumoropinionplayer-philosophyplayer-typessoapboxtagalongsthe-soapboxTue, 08 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What little events do you celebrate?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-daily-grind-what-little-events-do-you-celebrate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-daily-grind-what-little-events-do-you-celebrate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-daily-grind-what-little-events-do-you-celebrate/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's Saint Patrick's Day, and if you're in the US that means a celebration of Irish culture... or at least, it means a celebration of wearing green clothing and drinking an exceptional amount for the middle of the week. And while it's not the biggest holiday, some people look forward to it as much or more than major seasonal events. A few games even celebrate the event, such as Fallen Earth with a pub crawl and Everquest II with its Brewday celebrations. It's a holiday with no real overarching purpose except enjoyment, and that's hardly a bad goal.

Every game has little events that keep running long after they're no longer hugely pertinent. Every gamer has anniversaries or dates they remember, or holidays that they feel are important even if the game doesn't have a holiday event. So what small holidays or events do you observe in your favorite games? Do you make a point of memorizing important in-game lore dates and celebrating their anniversaries? Do you take part in no-longer-vital elements, such as the Elemental Invasions in World of Warcraft? Or do you just take the opportunity on days like today to outfit your Star Trek Online crew in green uniforms and hang around drunk?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What little events do you celebrate? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversariescelebrationsdrinkingenjoymenteqiieverquest-iifallen-earthfeintoxicationirelandirishsaint-patricks-daystar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 17 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Why play a game when I can pay someone to play it for me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/anti-aliased-why-play-a-game-when-i-can-pay-someone-to-play-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/anti-aliased-why-play-a-game-when-i-can-pay-someone-to-play-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/anti-aliased-why-play-a-game-when-i-can-pay-someone-to-play-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Great news, everyone! I'm launching my own line of Sera (TM) Branded Merchandise! I was so happy about this new line that I just had to talk about it in Anti-Aliased this week. I'm sorry if you were expecting some hard hitting piece of satire that would flummox even the staunchest defender of gold buying -- we're gonna have to save that one for next week's piece.

Anyway, I'm sorry about getting off topic. Let's get back to the situation at hand -- the new merchandise. I'm proud to announce that in a short period of time, you too will be able to participate in a revolutionary new way to interact with entertainment media. My brand new Sera Shoppe (TM), a fine retail establishment that already sells the patented Sera Anti-Whine Earmuffs, will be selling you ways to save time while still enjoying your favorite media.

By purchasing pre-made packs of SeraPhoints (starting at the low price of 500 Phoints for 10 bucks) you too can get in on the ground floor of this brand new medium inspired by power leveling services and real money trade operations.

Interested? You should be! Follow me after the break and let me introduce you to my brand new services!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Why play a game when I can pay someone to play it for me

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Why play a game when I can pay someone to play it for me originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcharacter-buyingcontentenjoymentfeaturedfrivolous-spendingfungold-buyinglol-microtransactionsopinionselling-your-characterselling-yourself-shortsera-shoppeskipping-contentThu, 11 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST