The Escapist, Issue 34: Extra!

[Evil Avatar]

This week The Escapist focused on the power of community. Casual Friday takes a slightly less serious look (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/34/22) at these same issues, with new articles including:

John Tynes: The Contrarian: Growing Out of the Stone Age (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/34/22)
John Tynes thinks the key to a good gaming session is having a good group. Join The Contrarian as he looks at different tools that could bring some quality to grouping in MMOGs.

Hitchhiker: Groups 'n' Gamers (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/34/27)
Whether they're called clans, allegiances, groups, or guilds, it seems everyone that plays online is in one. Or creating one of their own. Hitchhiker takes a look at why so many fail, and what makes a good one for him.

Chris Maire: The Gaming Club (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/34/30)
"It's almost a tradition, now, to have LAN parties on the same nights as dances, and none of the people in the room regret coming to this one." Chris Maire narrates an event of the Mindrot Gaming Club.

[TrackZero]

Wow, that Groups 'n' Gamers section really did hit it on the head.

Time for me to dump my WoW guild. I swear noone even talks in guildchat anymore.

[Sazime]

So does The Escapist come highly recommended? I've never read it, but I see the news post about it every week. It's that good, huh?

[Ronberk]

Anyone willing to comment on how well the various EvilAvatar guilds from different games are doing at the moment?

[TrackZero]

So does The Escapist come highly recommended? I've never read it, but I see the news post about it every week. It's that good, huh?

Some of the articles are good. Like any editorial though, sometimes you don't agree with the writers opinions (and can read into their bias for various reasons), but it's usually some good stuff the Escapist puts out.

[captainstrombosis]

Damn, that planetside referance hit me right in the chest. I know exactly how he felt. I too played planetside, got into a tactical outfit the same way he did. I too loved every minute of playing the game with those guys. They were true friends. Wether or not I ever saw them in real life. They ARE my friends. But when BFR's came out. It all fell apart. People lost their interest in the game, and it became a motley skeleton of the beast we used to be.

I went back to planetside recently. While it was an enjoyable experience. It had lost most of what kept me playing it for so long the first time...

My friends.

[Doctor Setebos]

I stopped playing in my City of Heroes supergroups ever since I hit level 25 with some of my toons. I wouldn't have, if the devs hadn't instituted that ridiculous new influence rule that cuts down the influence you receive by a certain percentage once you hit 25 and play in SG mode. Stupid rule. Bleh.