Said Butterfinger today when he deleted his Warcraft characters and gave away all of the riches he had accrued in the past 4 years. He is right. These characters have transformed into something much bigger than the pixels they occupy on a vapid computer monitor, and have taken on a life of their own outside the realm of WoW. They are a second existence for Butterfinger, and the place they inhabit represents another realm parallel to our own being. I have only played the game a handful of times and have a very limited knowledge with regard to the many intricacies that take place in game with regard to gaining experience, having a relationship with a guild, being successful on quests, and becoming a profitable member of Warcraft society, but I can understand how removing all ties with a character you have spent so much time developing could be compared to death. (more…)

June 10th, 2008 | Warcraft, Startup Relationships | 2 comments

In an outside the box attempt to make me realize, and trust in, Butterfinger’s ability to create money out of thin air, he has recently taken to perfecting his skill as a jewel making craftsman in World of Warcraft. Before you read any further please try to understand that, despite any preconceived notions you may have about online gaming, this game is strikingly similar to real life. Laugh, joke, write me off all you want, but after playing a few times and seeing everything Butterfinger does in game, I can see the parallels between the WoW realms and our real existance. The amount of time these players dedicate to leveling up their characters, learning new skills and being part of guilds that work together, united, as a team, is comparable to the amount of time people spend at work, and in some cases, far exceeding any work-related time commitment. (more…)

May 18th, 2008 | Warcraft, Startup Sacrifices, Startup Relationships, The Startup | 2 comments