WRUP: Remember that several people work here edition

It is important to note that Massively does not consist of one person hitting a keyboard furiously. There's a staff list to one side for a reason. Not every installment of Choose My Adventure was written by the same person, not every installment of The Soapbox was penned by the same person, and not every news post is reviewed by the entire staff. Equally relevant is the fact that the writers are not the people who moderate comments. There are a lot of moving pieces.

As an example of the sheer number of moving pieces behind the scenes of the site, we present to you WRUP, in which the Massively staff members explain to you what they're doing over the weekend. We also talk about whether or not we've ever been intimidated starting an older game after it's been out for a while. So go on and take a look at our multiple separate plans, and then go ahead and tell us what you'll be up to in the comments.

@Beau_Hindman: I'll be jumping into Dragon Eternity next week for Rise and Shiny. I've played it a bit here and there, but with all of the new updates to the game, I really need to take a deeper look at it. I love how it uses the browser, and I'm looking forward to comparing it to other browser-based, semi-graphical MMOs. I need to get some more time in The Secret World as well, although I really just want to move on to the next area at this point.

I don't find games intimidating unless they're decently complex and much older, like many MUDs. Older games can often have communities that are a bit indifferent to noobies. It's a natural process but can still be a little aggravating.

@nyphur: I've been flying about in EVE Online lately trying to decide what to do with myself and revisiting all the old COSMOS locations where I first made my fortunes. COSMOS was EVE's attempt at standard MMO questing zones, and though the idea was quickly abandoned, I'd love to see CCP Games iterate on it. Those areas added a lot of flavour to otherwise empty solar systems. I'll also be working on my game some more this weekend as the fleet combat system is coming along nicely!

I've never been intimidated to play a game that's been out for a while, but I do love playing new games right at launch. Being one of the people who figure out the game mechanics and find secret areas first really appeals to the EVE player in me. It's also hilarious to get to play with the exploits that inevitably pop up in the first few months.

@nbrianna: I expect to be in City of Heroes this weekend on my new Water/Storm Corruptor. Do I not already have 10 Storm characters? Why yes, yes I do. It's a sickness.

Sometimes I find it too overwhelming to get into a game late. EverQuest II has always given me that feeling when I play it -- like the game's prime has already come and gone and there's no point trying to jump in. But then I look at my favorite games, even non-MMOs, and they're all games I didn't fall in love with until long after launch, sometimes years. So clearly I take the plunge anyway.

@Eliot_Lefebvre: This weekend will be my last weekend in TERA, another weekend in RIFT, and a time for some Final Fantasy XIV and possibly Star Wars: The Old Republic too. There's a lot of stuff still up in the air at the moment, so I can't be sure of exactly what the weekend will hold. I'm hoping some liquor.

My biggest problem is that I can get easily intimidated by a game that's been around for a while, but I really don't like jumping into a game right at launch. There are always a lot of little things that can throw off your stride in any game you haven't played before, and there are always a lot of options barraging you from low levels that make sense if you're an old hand but can be disorienting if you're totally new. It's never stopped me from playing a game, but it has made me more reluctant.

@elixabethclaire: I will be playing The Secret World. And hopefully some Guild Wars. And maybe some other things? Weekends are long, and I'm not great at planning.

I should be more intimidated about playing games after launch, but I'm not. That's largely because I don't give a flying, frilly, frabjous whit as to whether or not I'm behind the power or learning curve on things.

I'll be playing The Secret World and a bit of Skyrim.

Most MMOs are built on the exact same foundation, so once you've played three or four of them, you know what to expect aside from a few very minor wrinkles. An exception would be EVE, and I did have some concerns about joining post-launch. They were unjustified, though, as new players can do plenty of interesting things despite being well behind the skill-training curve.

@Jeremy_Stratton: I have not yet begun to fight... in MUDs. No, really. I've been in some small scuffles in Aardwolf, but this past week, I've been sucked into Achaea. I've yet to get past the awesome fishing, training my Monk by actually taking jakata lessons, and catching butterflies before entering into battle. The thing I find striking about Achaea, besides the massiveness of the game, is how roleplaying-rich features are interestingly woven into mechanics. They aren't separate emoticons or other fluff. And of course I'm always playing Vanguard. I'm also trying to get Necronomnom to Level 20 on Saturday's livestream.

@Sypster: I'm prepping for a big trip, so I probably won't be playing much of anything this weekend. As for the intimidating factor, sure, I've experienced it. Veterans in any given MMO just take for granted the immense amount of information and experience they've accumulated over the year, and jumping into a five- or 10-year-old title can be harrowing for those lacking a good guide.

@JayeRnH: I'm knee deep in squished bugs from RIFT's Summerfest and looking forward to getting through Phase 2. I'm also planning to check out level-agnostic battlegrounds on EQII's test server.

I'm not intimidated to play a game that's been out for a while. In fact, I like games after the initial rush because there's too much chaos in the starter zones and too much stress from reading irate chat messages about things that players don't like about the game. Serenity now!

@terilynns: Season 6 has been pushed to Star Trek Online. I plan on playing everything I can to see what might be different from the test material on Tribble. The fleetmates are anxious to start on the new starbase, and I need to explore the cave where Tholians lurk.

Since I'm still considered by most to be a complete newb at MMOs (since I've played only one until recently), I will admit to a lot of personal intimidation trying out other games. Most of that intimidation comes from meeting players from other games who, shall we say, possess less-than-appropriate social skills. For me, players like that give their favorite games a bad reputation. Why would I waste my time and money to go try a game whose players treat others so heinously? I've come to the point that I have to research a lot about a game before I will dip my toes in. If they're not bitten clean off, then I play a little more. Lord of the Rings Online was a recent big winner of my time and money. The people have been very nice, and my intimidation has dissipated.

At the start of every weekend, we catch up with the Massively staff members and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" (Otherwise known as: WRUP!) Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game -- and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!