WRUP: Sorry about failing to save your fantasy world edition

To the many, many residents of video game worlds that I have completely failed to save: I'm really sorry. You have to understand that there are a lot of games out there, and sometimes saving you just isn't worth it. I've had Mass Effect games to play, and really, that's a lot more worlds to save. Also, in some cases, I didn't have a lot of choice about saving you -- looking at Final Fantasy VI here. I hope this won't damage our working relationship if I come crawling back for a sequel. If it does, well, I'll just not save you again.

To our Massively readers: This week's installment of WRUP is just past the cut; in it, the Massively staffers explain what they'll be doing over the weekend as well as whether or not they're sick of raid progression. Read our plans, and then let us know what you'll be up to down in the comments below. Also, if anyone from Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn asks about me, I'm not here.

@Beau_Hindman: I'm going to go ahead and push my Face of MankindRise and Shiny treatment up a week, considering how much has changed and how much fun I had streaming it last week. I'm sure I'll die a lot, though. I'll also be playing plenty of social games like The Grinns Tale by Nexon. It's brilliant and so adorable. I need to get some more time in Glitch, as well; I'm looking at you, tower.

I think that nothing represents MMOs better than a good raid. Having said that, I know many people seem to think I am "anti-raiding." I'm not -- I'm all for going to a dungeon with a group of friends and conquering monsters. Now, repeating it night after night for hours at a time? I think that's one of the worst things for MMOs. Try a dungeon or raid a few times, but don't turn it into a science. That's so boring.

@nbrianna: I'm going to be in Skyrim, Allods Online, and possibly the Path of Exile stress test this weekend. Very curious! :)

RaidING can definitely be fun when done right. Raid-dominated endgames and economies suck. Content locked behind progression walls is as huge a turn-off as any other grind. Can we please move on from that crappy design already?

@Eliot_Lefebvre: The usual rotation of RIFT, Final Fantasy XIV, and Star Wars: The Old Republic for Ms. Lady and me. I also need to get some City of Heroes time in for the weekend. Also, for reasons that can't possibly have anything to do with a certain movie premiere, I've had the urge to dip back into Batman: Arkham Asylum. Saving the sequel for the new computer, before you ask.

Do I need to restate what I think about raiding? I covered a lot of my feelings when I wrote a column on it about a year ago, but the short version is that it's a fine option but a lousy requirement. Some games do a better job than others of making it optional or making it easy to jump in and out as necessary. Having progression at the endgame is fine, but limiting it just one axis is reductive and unnecessary.

@elixabethclaire: I'll probably be paying my dues in The Secret World and possibly even Guild Wars this weekend, but I'll be spending most of my time savoring meatspace company and activities.

Raiding is great and very fun and good, but it needs to not be the be-all and end-all of endgame.

I'm playing The Secret World and Skyrim this weekend, and I'll probably pop into EverQuest II to see the Qeynos revamp.

I'm just starting to get into raiding, so I'm not sick of it yet. Like Patrick, though, I am tired of the unimaginative either/or endgame that most MMOs offer. Really, though, it's just an extension of the unimaginative beginning and middle game. Wake me up when folks realize that MMOs can be more than progression grinds.

@Jeremy_Stratton: I'm trying to save up enough gold to buy my first housing plot in Vanguard. Apart from that, I may dabble in some different MUDs.

I like all parts of MMOs, even the dungeons, but I don't like the intense focus on making a game smaller, then trying to extend its life by having players repeat the small amount of content endlessly.

@Sypster: Right now I'm on a big push to clear out the rest of RIFT's high-end zones -- and I've got a lot to go. Being able to make up new class builds keeps it from getting routine, plus I'm still digging achievement hunting.

Raid progression? I don't raid. Not worth the time or results.

Again, real life is going to bar me from gaming too much this weekend (whatever happened to the freedom of summers, huh?), but I am going to squeeze some in even if it means forfeiting sleep. I just recently acquired a specific LON housing deed that I have been wanting in EverQuest II, so I plan on starting that next huge decorating project; I expect to be going at this one for many, many weeks. I also completed my first deck in The Secret World (only for the outfit, mind you), and so I'm now switching over to more of a heal spec. Go go healing rifle!

I enjoy raiding when it means exploring a new place and practicing tactics with a group. However, I don't like when it becomes rote and you do the same area over and over and over again for some coveted piece of must-have gear... that never drops, of course. Large-scale instances/dungeons that move you through a story would be awesome! But progression like it is now? No thanks. I refuse to do any raid or instance repeatedly until I am sick of the game. Kind of defeats the purpose, no?

@mackeypb: My internet is still, as of this writing, awful. It did get better for a bit and I did get a game of League of Legends in, but it's starting to get frustrating. I just finished Fortune Summoners (it's amazing!), and I'm either going to play Fallout: New Vegas or The Witcher 2 next. I will get in some LoL, though, even if I have to suffer through lag. Even bot games is better than no LoL.

I'm not at all sick of raid progression, but I am sick of the "Raid or PvP" endgames common to too many MMOs. I'd like to see super-challenging small group content and lots of side options be available in addition to raids. Some people want to do things with 10-20 people, and they should be able to. We shouldn't be lumped into that group just to get further in the endgame, though.

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!