Sweet And Sour Gold Farming

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1. Daily Column

Creativity under pressure. I have approximately 30-35 minutes to crank out this column each morning. Those of you who have been kind enough to write me and tell me that I, and I paraphrase loosely, "suck lately" are correct. You win... nothing!

Cripes, if you were looking for quality you came to the wrong place. Go visit Coyote or Cody. To the other 30 people reading this blog right now (or so my Users Online tells me) stick around and I'll attempt to entertain you!

We are still looking for a few more "cartoonist" resumes. We have some great candidates, but I'd like to look at work from at least 10 people before we hire someone. That's right...HIRE as in pay you to turn my nonsensical ramblings into cartoons. I'll provide the humour and you provide the art. Resumes go here.

Our stance against gold farming shouldn't be a secret to anyone. I'd like to write that I feel sorry for the Chinese gold farmers, but I don't feel sorry for them any more than I feel sorry for anyone else who dislikes their job.

In their case I just happen to dislike their job as well. They are right up there on the career ladder, one rung ahead of telemarketers who call me at dinner time. I can at least ask telemarketers silly questions, put them on hold and generally annoy them as much as they annoy me. [Like this] I can't do that with gold farmers.

Julian Dibbell, the author of "Play Money: Or How I Quit My Day Job and Made Millions Trading Virtual Loot" has apparently lost his millions because he is now submitting articles to the N.Y. Times. His article titled, "The Life of a Chinese Gold Farmer". Here is a snippet,

"For every 100 gold coins he gathers, Li makes 10 yuan, or about $1.25, earning an effective wage of 30 cents an hour, more or less. The boss, in turn, receives $3 or more when he sells those same coins to an online retailer, who will sell them to the final customer (an American or European player) for as much as $20. The small commercial space Li and his colleagues work in â two rooms, one for the workers and another for the supervisor â along with a rudimentary workersâ dorm, a half-hourâs bus ride away, are the entire physical plant of this modest $80,000-a-year business. It is estimated that there are thousands of businesses like it all over China, neither owned nor operated by the game companies from which they make their money. Collectively they employ an estimated 100,000 workers, who produce the bulk of all the goods in what has become a $1.8 billion worldwide trade in virtual items. The polite name for these operations is youxi gongzuoshi, or gaming workshops, but to gamers throughout the world, they are better known as gold farms. While the Internet has produced some strange new job descriptions over the years, it is hard to think of any more surreal than that of the Chinese gold farmer."

What these "farmers" make an hour is really irrelevant. What they can buy with the money they earn in an hour is all that matters and last time I checked they could clear out a shelf in a Buck Or Two store with a day's worth of wages.

Anyway, read the article. You might need to register. I take no responsibility for the millions of NY Times spam you will receive regarding mutual funds because you read a story about people who make $0.30 an hour.

Raph posted his "Vision Doc" so that would-be developers like some of you could see what needs to be dreamed up before you go running off to make the next big MMOG. Check it out here.

Questions, comments and candid photos from the female readers can be delivered via the links below.

Comment in the blog (now with direct link goodness) or email me directly.

2. New MMOG Articles At Ten Ton Hammer Today

Blog: The Joy of Teaching
"Do you have a desire to teach the art of gaming to your significant other? You're certainly not alone. Cody "Micajah" Bye talks about the joy of teaching the art of gaming in today's blog."
Dungeon and Dragons Online: Quest Guide - Cabal of One
"If you have fought King Bendix, then probably will know the answer to this question? Having a hard time with this quest? Read Khalas's new guide to the quest: Cabal of One!
EVE Online: GoonSwarm vs CCP
"Over the last few weeks, a battle has raged between EVE Online developer, CCP Games, and a large in-game coalition of characters, the GoonSwarm alliance. In response to a statement made by CCP CMO, Magnus Bergsson, in our recent interview , GoonSwarm issued an official response to Ten Ton Hammer. We have hosted this response, along with a follow-up statement by CCP Games, for the critical eyes of our readers."
EverQuest 2: Newbie Resource Guide
"We all know it is tough getting started in a new game, so to make that transition a little bit easier, Ten Ton Hammer has compiled a Newbie Resource Guide. This guide is a quick and easy way to find the things that you, a new or returning player, will need to find your way in game and around our EQ2 Community Site.
Lord of the Rings Online: Complete Guide To Virtues Part 2
"Are you missing out on great Virtue bonuses because you don't know where to find them? Overwhelmed by Deeds and need to sort out what rewards you'll get? RadarX continues his guide to Virtues by providing the locations of where every one can be obtained."
Lord of the Rings Online: Monster Play Overview
"Wondering how you can get started on LoTRO's exciting monster play? Our intro to monster play teaches you all the basics you need to start your career as a minion of Sauron."
Vanguard: Monster Project - Tharridon The Mighty And More
"We're kicking off our Ten Ton Monster Project with some stats and screenshots of the fearsome creatures of Thestra. We've got Gorzag, Jiliwin the Branding, and a Zarian Netherbeast ready for hunting. And what better way to kick off a giant project than with a screenshot of an enormous giant? Our monster paparazzi caught The Mighty Tharridon himself."
Vanguard: Warrior Skills 1-25
"Since Ralsu recently created a Warrior alt, he decided to update our list of abilities for levels 1-25."
World of Warcraft: Karazhan Guide
"Wondering what to expect from Karazhan? how to get attuned or the loot and encounters that await you in Medivh's seemingly abandoned tower? Look no further, check out our new Karazhan Guide! Attumen the Huntsman's section was added!"
World of Warcraft: Auchnenai Crypts Guide
"After completing the Mana Tombs and adventuring a bit more in Terokkar Forest and Nagrand, you will be ready for the next instance in Auchindoun, The Auchenai Crypts. The Auchenai Crypts are a wing of the the Auchindoun instance that is meant for players level 65-67.
World of Warcraft: Patch 2.1.2 Direct Download
"Patch 2.1.2 is now available for a speedy download from our very own servers. No waits, no queues, no incredibly low speed caps, and especially no lame countdowns to download anything from us! Just a speedy direct download to get you right back in the game. Oh, and patch notes!"

3. Hot Content

4. Real World News

Vatican Issues 10 Commandments For Driving [Thanks Mikes]
Thou shalt not give the finger to the PopeMobile, no matter how slow it drives in front of you.
Robot Sub Explores Giant Canyon [Thanks Mikes]
Expected to exit through Rosie's ear within the week.
Flushed Bra Causes Sewer Collapse [Thanks Mikes]
It will be big trouble if they catch the boob that did that.
Garden Gnomes Hid Smuggled Snakes [Thanks Mikes]
Complete with picture of snake coming out of a Gnomes butt.

Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com

John "Boomjack" Hoskin

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

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