Showing posts with label Unforgivable Puns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Unforgivable Puns. Show all posts

Thursday, July 8, 2010

On Forgiveness

Blizzard may have ticked me off with RealID (okay, more like mildly irked but heavily concerned), but a new Cataclysm Screenshot reveals exactly why I love them anyway.


















-Stormshrug

P.S.: Yes, this is tagged under 'Unforgivable Puns.'  Irony ensues.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

On Poking the Bear (Druid)

So apparently, Blizzard has implemented plans to make your name - your actual name - visible on the forums whenever you post. 

Yes, in theory, it's supposed to combat this:


(Thanks, Penny-Arcade)

Practically, it's about as well thought out as Leeroy Jenkins' ill-fated dive into the Rookery of Blackrock Spire.  On the surface, it's the stupidest thing you've ever seen, but also like the Leeroy Jenkins video, there may be more going on that there appears to be (the video is staged, for comedy). 

I'm inclined to say that although I don't buy any of the conspiracy theories regarding this change, I also don't think that this is to fight forum trolling so much as it is to tie all of their products together more tightly, creating easier transitions from one to another in the days to come, when Blizzard will inevitably release a new MMO. 

Thankfully, this change will not apply retroactively to old posts.  I guess I'm not going to post in the forums any more, though (not that I really ever do).

Even more disturbingly, some addons can apparently read (and repeat to other people) your real name thanks to in-game RealID.  Awesome.  Guess I'm killing all my addons for the moment (not that I use so many).

But what's really interesting about this is that it's the biggest forum furor (which are always hilarious in and of themselves) I've seen since the second coming of Bus Shock, and impressively, this clusterf*ck may be even more... shall I say... Cataclysmic?


-Stormshrug

P.S.: I predict that by week's end, either Blizzard has addressed this issue or it has become clear that people really don't care that much.  Still, it's an impressive storm brewing on the forums.

Update #1 (7/7/2010):

Well, the sh*t is really flying now, and Godwin's law has hit the forum hard regarding Blizzard's liberal application of the banhammer.  Inevitable V for Vendetta comparisons are being made, as they always are whenever the internet gets angry.  The official thread on Battle.net changes is over 1,000 pages long.  Blizzard has also made clear that this change is part of their long-term plans, and seems to be holding firm on the issue.  It'll be interesting to see where things go from here.

Some interesting points have been raised in the debate, the most valid of which, I think, is that this change has some disturbing ramifications for those whose real names reveal a great deal about their identities.  Of course, the standard response from supporters has been "don't post, don't have your name revealed," but while technically true, this answer is laden with unfortunate implications about how people who fear being victimized should be silent.

Update #2:  And lo, by Friday night, it has been retracted.  Real names will not be displayed on the forums.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

On Inquisitors and Guardsmen

"What have we here?" Inquisitor Balerephos asked his majordomo, First Acolyte Leroi.

Leroi looked up from his recaff, dour-faced as always during the hours before the sun normally rises.

"Well, sir, these guardsmen were cut down by Tyranids.  This command squad was caught during the retreat."

"I see.  But it appears that the officer was not actually hit by any of the fleshborer rounds."  The Inquisitor crunched some of the dead, beetle-like creatures under his foot for emphasis.

"No sir.  However, this legion had been known for a lack of discipline.  You can see that one of the commander's retinue actually tried to escape, fleeing his post.  You can tell by the wounds on his back, and the fact that he made it a bit farther than the rest of his squad.  Ironically, he had been charged with carrying the regimental banner, for morale.  These banners aren't light.  And when he dropped the regimental banner, it fell on his commanding officer.  The bronze wing on the side impaled him, fatally from the looks of it.  Right through his skull, killing him in an instant.  With the commander dead, it's no wonder the rest of these troops were routed."

"I see.  Well I guess you could say this is what happens when..."

The Inquisitor trailed off briefly, and pulled a pair of solar-optic lenses from his front pocket, fitting them over his normal glasses to shield his eyes from the rising sun.  Looking down at the corpse, he continued,

"...you let standards fall."




-Stormshrug