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WoW Insider Show Episode 121: So long and thanks for all the Fah-jords
Our podcast reached the end of part one last weekend, as both Turpster and I announced that we'd be leaving the show. But we didn't let it become a sad affair -- Matthew Rossi and Chase Christian both joined us for some Warcraft discussion (including when it's ok to votekick someone, and lots of Battered Hilt discussion), and we finally were able to have one of our favorite guys stop by: Scott Johnson from The Instance podcast. It was a great show, and as usual, you can tune in at all of the links below. Thanks again for everything -- even though Turpster and I are moving on, the podcast will continue, so be sure to come back and see what they brew up for you. But it's been a heck of a ride these past two-plus years, and we've had measurable metric tons of laughs and fun together. Thanks so much for listening and chatting with us and all the emails and excitement. Enjoy the show, and don't forget to grab your sword and fight the Horde. Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to the WoW Insider Show directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add the WoW Insider Show to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: <cke:object width="290" height="24" type="" application="" x-shockwave="" -flash"="" data="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ab/audio_player.swf"> <cke:param value="http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ab/audio_player.swf" name="movie"></cke:param> <cke:param value="soundFile=http://podcasts.aolcdn.com/wow/podcasts/12-21-09-wow-E121.mp3" name="FlashVars"></cke:param> <cke:param value="high" name="quality"></cke:param> <cke:param value="false" name="menu"></cke:param> <cke:param value="transparent" name="wmode"></cke:param></cke:object>
Tom Chilton talks about the in-game pet store
The guys over at The Instance podcast got a chance to talk to Blizzard's Tom Chilton about the recent decision to sell in-game noncombat pets for real money, and the interview is now up in the latest episode on their site. He talks first about the pets' development, and it sounds like they designed the pets thinking they'd be sold on a real-money store eventually. He says the price point was "arrived at by trying to figure out what it would have to be to make sense for us to spend time working on it." And he mentions the TCG and their loot prizes -- he says those were meant to be a bonus, and they ended up being a roundabout way for players to buy pets anyway, so Blizzard decided to go with this more direct plan. He doesn't say much about the future, but he does say that Blizzard is planning on doing some "pet and plushie" deals, where you'll be able to buy a plushie from the Blizzard store, and get an in-game pet with it. For the game specifically, he mentions the guild transfer service that's coming (we heard about that back at BlizzCon -- you'll be able to server transfer an entire guild rather than do it account-by-account), but otherwise he tells players that the pet store is just a "side project" -- right now, it's not taking away from development at all, and if it does grow, Chilton says Blizzard would hire more people rather than using current developers. We'll have to see what happens in the future.
How I WoW ends its run, Patrick Beja to work for Blizzard
Our good friends Patrick Beja and Shawn Coons (who you've likely heard on our podcast before a few times) have posted the very last episode of the popular and excellent How I WoW podcast. Both Turpster and I have appeared on and enjoyed the show, as we've said before, and they're calling it quits -- the final episode features Scott Johnson of The Instance podcast (who was also on the very first episode, so that's fitting), and besides saying goodbye to their audience, the three guys talk very insightfully about the WoW community and its podcasters, and the kinds of ties we create as players in places as varied as the game, the online community, and real-life events like BlizzCon.The show is ending (temporarily, perhaps -- Shawn hints that he may revive it, or help someone else to do so) mostly because Patrick Beja, as we heard at the very end of BlizzCon, is off to work for Blizzard in their Paris office. Unfortunately, he says he won't have a very public face at the company, but he's excited to have the position, and we're obviously very happy for him. He won't be able to podcast about World of Warcraft or Blizzard at all, so as Shawn says in the final show, there will definitely be a Patrick-shaped hole in the community. He won't be gone completely, though: he says will be able to continue his other podcasting work, including on The Movielicious podcast with our very own Turpster.We wish Patrick and Shawn the best, and if you haven't yet tuned in to How I WoW, definitely go give it a listen while the archives are still up -- it's a very interesting take on some of the more familiar faces in the community at large. We'll miss the show for sure.
Sunday Morning Funnies: Boom shaka laka!
The expansion is drawing near, but for now, all I have to offer you folks is a brand spanking new list of comics. Well, except the first entry, it is not new. New to the list maybe but not "new" new. You see my point. Now get reading! Experience Points by Scott Johnson is a new comic for this list. Check out their most recent WoW-related entry. Dark Legacy Comics: Haircut. I hope Blizz adds in new hairstyles soon. Most of my characters switched just for the achievement, and then switched back! Flintlocke vs. The Horde: A Cunning Plan. Shakes and Fidget: Surprise. There are at least two surprises in this comic. A Little of Both from GU Comics. The latest from LFG. Where the Heck is the AH?! from Teh Gladiators. The latest from Scout Report. You might want to click back a few, as it seems the Ogres have been a little overly ambitious.
Readers pick best webcomic: nightmares
It looks like ze secret formula has once again worked, as Scott Johnson's Extra Life strip claimed the top spot for best webcomic of the week.Coming in second place was Dueling Analogs, while the frisky VG Cats take third. As always, thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!
The plant has his time
We've played through enough Super Mario Bros. games to have learned that no pipe should be approached without caution. After a lifetime of suffering piranha plant attacks, always at the least opportune moments, we've trained ourselves to scrutinize every green tube before hopping over it. We'll sit there for up to two minutes, staking out the pipe to make sure there isn't a hidden fly trap hoping to dupe us with its delayed pattern. Sometimes, we'll even see their eyes poking out, anxious to see why we haven't jumped yet.These guys seem to pop up everywhere! In addition to their appearances in almost every Mario-related title over the past two decades, the piranha plants extended their roots to Tetris Attack and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening! They've also been spotted in last Wednesday's Extra Life comic, illustrated by the always-awesome Scott Johnson. It's a predictable punchline, but no less hilarious because of it. We implore you to check it out!
Readers pick best webcomic: Pac-Man secrets
Sure, Extra Life's Scott Johnson often uses Pac-Man and Mario for a topic, but the sheer combination, cleverness, and timing with the new Championship Edition give him the edge for game-related webcomic of the week.Coming in second place is Dueling Analogs and third place goes to Penny Arcade. A special kudos to Digital Unrest because we love (a) science jokes and (b) the sheer probability of the situation.Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to let us know of any gaming comics you stumble upon this week! (And for those who tipped us off in Saturday's post, no worries we've got you noted.)
Readers pick best webcomic: the real winner
Proving that the quality of clever observation can trump the importance of finished, colorful artwork, Scott Johnson's Extra Life took first place in this week's webcomic wrapup for understanding the real winner of the so-called "console wars." Second place goes to Ctrl+Alt+Del and third place goes to 2P Start. (Yes, Ray and Tim, we also wouldn't be surprised.) Thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomic you stumble upon this week!
Joystiq profiles Extra Life's Scott Johnson
Scott Johnson's Extra Life is a gaming strip that, much like Penny Arcade, is equal parts comic and blog. Johnson's embrace of the Internet and new media has put Extra Life into territories such as blogging, podcasting, and vidcasting. Johnson also contributed some spiffy Joystiq-themed banners for our trip to E3 last year. Chatting with us via e-mail, Johnson explains that there is, in fact, life outside of World of Warcraft.Who is the Scott Johnson outside of Extra Life?You mean my "Regular Life"? I am a 37-year old marketing director for a small web company in Salt Lake City. Happily married with three great kids. A video game freak at heart, beginning back in the 80's when I helped my Dad maintain three arcades and a burgeoning gaming business. People ask where I got hooked on gaming, and I tell them it in my basement, with free play turned on, burning the night away on Missile Command, Pac-Man and Burgertime, to name just a few. I was rather popular with the neighbors back then, as you might guess.
