Game Update: On-Going Game Maintenance (8/12/10)

Taken from the login page:


Wizard101 Maintenance
As part of our ongoing effort to improve Wizard101, we are performing ongoing maintenance on the game.
Today only, Paying Players* will be able to log in to the game, and Free to Play players will have intermittent access. All players may experience a delay the first time they log a character in to the world today. This is expected and there's no need to submit a bug about this delay.

Thank you for your patience while we diligently continue to improve Wizard101 for all our players.

*paying players include those who are currently subscribed, or have purchased $10 in Crowns or more in the last 30 days.

Request for the Community

Update:  I forgot to mention that this will be left open for a week for collection (closes next Monday, August 16, and the writing process may take around one to two weeks, depending on how many different areas need to be covered!)

Hey all,

In addition to a response to the last post, I'm about to do a lengthy, exploratory essay on Player vs Player, and I'll need your help.  You don't even have to have any experience in the Arena to participate, though!

We're all different players of many different backgrounds, and I'm looking for all sorts of personal experiences, views, expectations, likes and dislikes, observations, insight...really, anything you want to share or say about PVP, positive or negative.  Think of it as a poll where the answers are large prompt boxes for paragraphs to go into, and like a poll, what you share will be confidential; I will email you before using your name and your statement(s) in the composition.  You can submit any length, from a short paragraph to a multi-page rant or praise.

The key thing I'm looking for is honesty in your responses, so really, "anything goes", but remember to be yourself :)  The end result will be yet another "Into the Spiral"-type post, and possibly the longest one yet. 

Please send your submissions to this medium, with "Chill ITS" in the subject line.

Happy writing!

Beyond the Spiral: "Got a Bartleby?" (Intro)

A few days ago, while driving to work, I was listening to my favorite local talk show (I won't name it here, since it's not always safe for listeners under 18 to be hearing) and they were discussing a seemingly common social dilemma.  A listener wrote in, explaining her situation:  she had performed an action many years ago that was debatable up to this day regarding its morality and acceptance in our society, and her partner, upon discovering her history, had left her.  He was on the side that believed that her certain act was "wrong," and he was totally against it; their separation had nothing to do with any specific problems between the couple.  So that raised a difficult question:  Should someone's past be the basis of our present judgment of them?  In other words, do we let what they did back then affect how we think or behave towards them?  How fair is it for a person on Team A to throw away what they have with someone when they discover that a person used to be on Team B?  Keep in mind, this action would have happened before you ever met this person. 

Before I dive into my answer, I'll wait a few days to give you readers a chance to explore and respond...I'm really curious in seeing what we have on the table so far before I bring my entree.  So what do you guys think?

New "Mistblood" Released: Page 27 & 28

For the entire series, click here

Page 27

 

Page 28

BUN: One Week...

(sung to Barenaked Ladies' "One Week")


Blog:

"It's been one week since you wrote on me,

Got up and left for Petnome, now I'm empty,

Five days since you sat with me saying

'Too much to do, I'll come back when ready.'

Three days on the Twitter Feed

I realized I wasn't there, it's just the P. P.

Yesterday you looked at me

But it'll still be two days 'til you say you're 'ready.'"

Kevin: 

Hold on now, don't have a brown cow,

I know it's been a while,

You'll think you're being so neglected

I brought you news to diffuse, although I would rather choose

To write it out 

In a way that's much more completed:

In the paragraph form like the good times,

Share what's on my mind,

Because I'm all for the readers.

But because you do insist,

Here's a real big list; don't get fined for being a speeder:

Opened site at night and 'twas alright;

Not as popular as "Twilight";

I like PBworks, it's the finest of the Wiki's,

Gotta check us out, and you'll be "wow"-ed

How well-endowed we're with the crowd

Of bustling Petnome Pages,

You would think that we're kinda geeky.

How can we help it if we've got a lot o' Pets to board?

Tryin' hard to keep up and update it more...

We're the kind of Team bent on aiding Wizards all.

Can't understand why we do?  

It's just natural.

I have a new member to introduce on the Team!

I have here Sierra Starsong and here's her blog--"

"Still, been one week since you hung with me

Even Mistblood's slowed down; I'm getting worried.
Five days 'til it's Saturday

You've got until then for a new release (*hint hint*)

Been three days since your tooth's removed,

You distracted yourself in arena; many got schooled.

Yesterday you came to see me

And now I sit back and wait 'til you say 'I'm ready.'"

"Saturday morning, the Warehouse run was

Delayed way past one; my late nap a faux pas;

Though it actually turned out okay:

Took L.R. Jonte

With Lifecaster and Deathslinger.

Like a bulldozer we pushed right on through

Like nothing was new

Like "that," Estrakir popped and died.

Then soon right after, farmed Kensington,

With good John Lifeglen

Who hosts All-Star Meet-and-Greet this Thursday night.

Gonna get a set o' Petno' mail

Gonna search on through the clustered trail

Just so the info' isn't always giving you the wrong things;
Gotta use the pics and edit tricks
'Cause the website has got 2 GIG storage space;
Hopefully very soon we'll finish uploading.

How can we help it if we've got a lot o' Pets to board?

Tryin' real hard to keep up and update it more...

We're the kind of Team bent on aiding Wizards all.

Can't understand why we do?  

It's just natural.

We are proud to present that we've got the Crabling.

Now looking to map other pets...

And all last week I was busy, see...

Farming fast, crafting snacks, playin' with Missy.

Five days since I looked on through

And noticed that I'm featured in Diary's frame two.

Three days since the weekend came

Time flew fast and now we're back, feelin' blue.

Yesterday, shared some strategies

And now it's two days 'til we're in a new Hall to study..."

First Full Reunion with the "Crew", After 5 Long Months