WoW... that's special.

[invisionary]

"What's the fun in that? Were they sponsored by Pampers and Carnation liquid meals, because that's about what they were doing."

- jecook, in regards to someone reaching level 85 in Europe before Cata was released in North America

http://jecook.dreamwidth.org/116499.html

Comments

[boundbooks]

Eh, people play for different reasons. Some people like being first (whether it be levels, raid bosses, professions, or exploration). Some people like to RP. Some people like to read every quest and explore the story. Some people like to PvP. Some people like to raid. Some people like to level alts

WoW isn't a zero-sum game. I wish people wouldn't look down on a different playstyle as if it somehow harms everyone else's fun.

Someone, somewhere was going to be world first to 85.

I just don't get this mentality of waiting around to bad-mouth the first person who does it (in usually less than a day or two). Both the max-level and the subsequent insulting of the person have happened every expansion; it's not really a surprise anymore nor unexpected commentary.

[invisionary]

What bothers me about it is to accomplish such a feat it requires a certain disconnect from reality. Probably also stimulant abuse to grind away at that kind of a pace. The outside world might as well not exist when attempting this. For a video game? Maybe at a competition level (see SC in S. Korea), but what's the prize for being first in this?

[boundbooks]

If I'm recalling the facts, the fellow in question did it in six hours (with the help of his entire guild). I believe they used a technique whereby he tagged mobs and the others killed it, allowing him to get the XP credit.

I'm not sure you can call it disconnect from reality or assert stimulant abuse to play a video game for six hours. I think that your claim that it required "a certain disconnect from reality, probably also stimulant abuse...[and] the outside world might as well not exist" involves a bit of hyperbole. He played for six hours, not sixty.

I think most of us could manage to sit at a computer for six hours, once every two to three years (the rough time between expansions), without 'disconnecting from reality' or 'stimulant abuse.'

I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm simply comparing the facts of what he did to your claims.

The biggest feat was not his play time, but the coordination and willing participation of his guild in helping him hit 85 so quickly.

[invisionary]

Fair enough. I'm perhaps a little bitter from my time spent playing WoW (and wishing I could have that month of my life back), but I'm wondering just how much more that dedicated group of people could accomplish elsewhere. It doesn't sound as bad when described in these terms, but I'm still finding it bothersome. Regardless, it takes an awful lot of not having a life to get into a group that could accomplish this feat in the first place.

[boundbooks]

I can understand finding it bothersome, if it's something that you don't like. That kind of playstyle isn't my cup of tea either, but I just don't feel that insults or aspersions of character are appropriate.

It's fairly easy to look at anything one isn't interested in and label it a waste of time or not having a life.

Some examples, which also include things I like, but that I've heard described as utter wastes of talent and time:

Professional Football
Historical Re-enactments
Peace Corps Volunteering
High School Musicals
Reading a book
Writing Genre Fiction
Drawing
Fashion Design
Parent Teacher Organizations
Neighborhood Associations
Art History
Watching NASCAR
Blogging about feminism
Doing anti-racism work

Posting on Dreamwidth over whether or not hitting 85 in a few hours is scorn-worthy or not :P

We all have hobbies that aren't on par with the value socially ascribed to a life spent as a Doctor-Super Scientist Volunteer in Crises Areas.

Playing a lot of WoW doesn't really hurt the population at large. It can be destructive to individuals at a personal level, but I just don't see the point of making posts that insult a complete stranger who chooses to play and whose actions have no impact on anyone but his own or his family's life.

I, personally, would never want to see an audit of the time that I've spent reading Sci-Fi and Fantasy, but that is also my decision of how I choose to spend my time. :P

[jecook]

From what my source tells me, the same guild pulled that stunt with the last expansion pack as well.

And while I'm generally not one to diss on people's habits (there'd be a serious case of pot/kettle there!), it does make me wonder why people would be that big of a rush to go through all the new content that fast, besides the whole world first prestige.

[boundbooks]

"it does make me wonder why people would be that big of a rush to go through all the new content that fast, besides the whole world first prestige."

I think it is all about the prestige, similar to why many realms keep 'Realm First' raid kill lists and why there's usually quite a bit of competition among guilds to get those realm first kills.

I wouldn't be surprised if the world first 85 player goes back and does all the quests on this character (it would be a ton of gold at cap) or has another character that he'll level more slowly for fun.

With 10 character slots, I'm betting the fellow has at least one other character at 80, if not at least in the 70's. :)

[jecook]

Entirely possible- a good number of players in my guild have a full stable of alternative charecters that they do role play, or gathering, professions, etc on.

I'm guilty in that respect myself- I spent tuesday evening whipping through the worgen starting area quest chains just to see what they were like.