Slog - Comments on Assignment: Gold Farming for a World of Warcraft Addict http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war This past week I received an email from Joseph, a World of Warcraft addict who wanted me to come over to his apartment, sit down at his desk, and do the dirty work required for his World of Warcraft character, Sarkylnieu, to advance to new levels. Joseph wanted me to come over for 4-8 hours. I called him up and said, “how about 20 minutes?” I drove over to Joseph’s apartment yesterday, stood by the entrance, and waited for him to come down and let me in. It was raining outside and I couldn’t tell if I was standing in... Copyright 2008 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:14:13 -0800 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:22:38 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Sam M. Holy crap. Don't replace me, please. That was awesome.

]]> Sam M. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878295 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878295 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:15:38 -0800 Comment by bma Joseph told me he doesn’t like the South Park episode where all the characters play World of Warcraft online, live in their basement, grow pimply and fat and poop in bedpans because they’re too lazy to get up. “I only play World of Warcraft in the evening,” he said to me, “and I play it with friends, and I have a purpose every time I play it. I don’t just sit around.”

So you go to work, come home, sit in front of your computer, and do menial tasks in a fictitious world for hours on end while sitting on your ass? You probably don't spray your mom with shit while you're playing, but I wouldn't necessarily compare it to, say, doing charity work, getting exercise, or interacting with real people.

Therefore, "sitting around" seems like the *perfect* way of describing it.

]]> bma http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878303 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878303 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:22:33 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV You should probably be reported to People for the Ethical Treatment of Cartoon Animals.

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878304 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878304 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:23:25 -0800 Comment by a river in Africa “I only play World of Warcraft in the evening,” he said to me, “and I play it with friends, and I have a purpose every time I play it. I don’t just sit around.”

This comment absolutely reeks of denial.

]]> a river in Africa http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878329 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878329 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:39:48 -0800 Comment by infrequent so, which was worse? anal glands, or failing at gold mining? at least you aren't good at world of warcraft. just don't go looking for a job in china.

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878342 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878342 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:46:05 -0800 Comment by MHD The company should have there be a finite number of buffalo, so that this kind of hunting eventually drives them extinct.

]]> MHD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878350 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878350 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:54:19 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV Do World of Warcraft denizens use all parts of the computer-generated buffalo?

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878366 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878366 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:03:19 -0800 Comment by dorkus @6 -

Spell Details
Name Resurrection
Level 22
Rank Rank 2
Cost 60% of Base Mana
Range 30 yds (Medium Range)
Cast Time 10 seconds
Duration Instant
Target Type Resurrectable Corpse
Source Trainer (36 Silver)
Description Brings a dead player back to life with 160 health and 300 mana. Cannot be cast when in combat.

...now a buffalo may not be a "resurrectable corpse", but the concept of "extinction" in a "world" that posits a "target type" of "ressurrectable corpse", it stretches the imagination to believe that your suggestion is "possible".

]]> dorkus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878378 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878378 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:08:11 -0800 Comment by K If his guy is a level 70, he can't go any higher (geek check), so what was the point?

]]> K http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878387 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878387 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:11:32 -0800 Comment by Sarina Are you sure you're not Dan Savage's kid? Striking resemblance.

]]> Sarina http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878388 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878388 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:11:44 -0800 Comment by Comic Book Guy Ooh, your powers of deduction are exceptional. I can't allow you to waste them here when there are so many crimes going unsolved at this very moment. Go, go, for the good of the City!

]]> Comic Book Guy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878394 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878394 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:13:49 -0800 Comment by infrequent napoleon, you write some funny comments. or, as @9 would put it, "napoleon", you "write" some "funny" "comments" "."

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878443 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878443 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:42:21 -0800 Comment by infrequent 8 not 9! "ahhh!"

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878445 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878445 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:43:21 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV There is no emoticon to express how I feel.

Seriously--what are they doing with all the buffalo skins?

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878447 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878447 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:44:42 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Harvesting them for...their new condos.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878470 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878470 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:54:00 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV Damn yuppies from Azeroth and Montana...

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878488 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878488 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:58:51 -0800 Comment by Shini I honestly don't understand the strong desire/need for farming gold/levels/etc.

What's the fun in buying a game, and then turn around and pay someone to play your character, and then hand it back to you at level cap with every rare and shiny drop, and max gold? You didn't earn all that crap, you never explored the game you bought, you never actually done any of the quests. So why play?

(and the fact there are Gold farming sweatshops? creeps me out)

]]> Shini http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878496 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878496 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:01:19 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @9 - no, he needs to save up gold for when he reaches level 80 in the next expansion out this year - runecrafting is an expensive skill to learn.

Too bad he didn't show you how to use bots to scan the Auction House for cheap items to resell to other bots that buy mats for people who then sell the resultant finished product to someone else ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878500 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878500 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:02:19 -0800 Comment by michael strangeways ohmigoodness!

nerds ARE funny!

(chortle)

]]> michael strangeways http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878503 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878503 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:02:53 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV And for what it's worth--you probably woulnd't have been killed by the tornado if you weren't busy trying to hump trees at the time.

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878533 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878533 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:22:23 -0800 Comment by Fnarf "in the US there are more people who gold farm than people who actually farm"

Uh-huh. Sure there are.

This was WAY weirder and more unsavory than expressing the anal glands.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878585 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878585 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:00:57 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @20, but he's an intern ... we can't expect him to know that humping trees around dust devils is not a good choice.

He's there to learn.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878595 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878595 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:07:08 -0800 Comment by Gloria This just gets more awesome every time. Never leave us, Public Intern!

]]> Gloria http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878599 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878599 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:10:13 -0800 Comment by Ben @9 & 18:

"After you skin it, you gain gold that can be converted into real cash (like the kind actual human beings use)."

]]> Ben http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878652 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878652 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:15:10 -0800 Comment by Scythia Yeah yeah, we nerds are hilarious... at least most of us have a sense of humor about ourselves... I thought the South Park was hilarious!

The gold-farmers are creepy and obnoxious... if you're in one of the major city hubs in-game you can be guaranteed some level 1 character named Qwertyuiop or Zxcvbnm will be there telling you to visit www.wowgold.com "The safest and cheapest source for gold." Whatever that means.

I agree, I don't get having someone else play your character... what the hell fun is that? I for one prefer to get fat and poop into bedpans MYSELF, thank you.

]]> Scythia http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878665 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878665 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:29:49 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Just remember to right click on the name and select "SPAM".

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878683 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878683 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:54:25 -0800 Comment by catalina vel-duray Public Intern looks like a boy I was desperately in love with once, a million years ago.

If we had both been completely different people, it would have been a match made in in heaven.

]]> catalina vel-duray http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878702 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878702 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:18:29 -0800 Comment by Marty @22 Nice catch with the Dust Devil. For a second I was completely wondering what "tornado" he was killed by...
Also, I hate these people. I get made fun of my guild because I'm only level 38 after 5 months while my friends, who also started at 5 months, are level 60. And somehow me telling them I have a life (exercise, work, school) only made them laugh harder.
Sometimes nerds are funny. Sometimes they're also jerks.

]]> Marty http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878703 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c878703 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:20:09 -0800 Comment by Toby @28:

Want to level up faster while still having a life? Use a "leveling guide".

But, if you actually want to enjoy the game, just take your time. Maybe find a new guild too. ;)

]]> Toby http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c880181 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c880181 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:08:50 -0800 Comment by Peter As a local game artist who works on a competing MMoRPG, I am offended by this post.

]]> Peter http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c880588 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c880588 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:47:05 -0800 Comment by JC What a load. The dude plays games when most of you jackasses are plopped down in front of a TV watching sitcoms and "reality TV" and you assume he doesn't have a life while you do.

Sounds to me like you came into this with the story already written, Mr. Blum.

]]> JC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c884712 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/_assignment_gold_farm_for_a_world_of_war#c884712 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:22:38 -0800