Tag Archives: experience

Technology

Thousands of World of Warcraft Classic players descended upon a single server to get a fresh levelling experience

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Thousands of World of Warcraft Classic players last night descended upon a single server to get a fresh levelling experience – and it was absolute chaos.

Last week, I reported on how over one thousand World of Warcraft players had banded together to create a “fresh” experience in the Classic version of the famous MMO.

In the absence of incoming fresh servers with the launch of Burning Crusade Classic, those who only now fancy playing the famous MMO as it was in 2004 face starting on realms filled with maximum level players and botting.

In response, players came together en masse to “reboot” the vanilla experience on one of the least populated servers.

When I reported on it last weekend, The Fresh Crusade was a community project whose Discord was 1300 players strong. Last night, on 5th March, when the server that would be home to this massive re-roll event was announced, the Discord had over 10,000 members.

The original idea was to offer a fresh levelling experience akin to what was on offer when World of Warcraft Classic – and indeed the original World of Warcraft it simulates – first launched.

But The Fresh Crusade ended up too popular for its own good. The server in question, Dragonfang [EU], immediately rose from being a low population realm to a medium population realm. Caszhar, the player who started The Fresh Crusade, told me over Discord that they couldn’t say exactly how many players joined the launch, but estimated it at 30 per cent of the Discord’s member number – that would mean 3000 players descended upon Dragonfang all at the same time. At launch, there were over 20 guilds formed and ready to go, each with hundreds of players as members.

“I think everyone knew what we were in for,” Caszhar told me tonight. “The launch was different to the launch of Classic in 2019. Then there was layering, putting players into instances to reduce overflow, but here everyone was in one space. The experience was chaos but it was amazing, so many people in one place was phenomenal and though it took around three to four hours for people to spread out, everyone had a lot of fun. Many people claimed that this launch was bigger, more chaotic and enjoyable than the Classic launch due to its craziness.”

The Twitch video below, from World of Warcraft streamer MetaGoblin, shows what it was like in The Valley of Trials, the Orcs and Trolls starting area in southern Durotar. Spoilers: it was busy!

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Caszhar’s re-roll experience was similar to that of others, it seems:

“I started with five people from my guild and we tried to do some quests but it was hard to even kill anything so we ran ahead to higher level areas and just killed as many mobs as possible.

“It was far from a traditional leveling experience and quite overwhelming to have so many people around you at all times but still something unique that I have never experienced in an MMORPG.”

Here are some screenshots of the action across Dragonfang last night, provided by Caszhar (to explain the images showing players standing in a queue, some quests require you to kill a particular NPC that respawns on a timer. Dragonfang was so busy at the launch of The Fresh Crusade that some players patiently waited in-line for their turn to kill these NPCs):

Now though, a day after launch, things have calmed down somewhat.

“… today we have been playing further and lots of people have spread out and it has been less competitive to level,” Caszhar said. “There are tons of groups around doing their own thing and it’s felt like this WoW Classic server has been revitalised and filled with life from players being everywhere once again.”

One of the reasons for The Fresh Crusade’s existence is to combat the botting and economy inflation that afflicts World of Warcraft Classic.

The Fresh Crusade targeted a low population server in a bid to provide players with the chance to get the best “fresh” experience they could despite this botting problem.

Unfortunately, botting exists even on dead servers, and Dragonfang was no exception. “Even if Blizzard released fresh realms then it would only be a month tops before it would probably reach the same levels of high population servers,” Caszhar said.

“The people part of this project have had their concerns and they are perfectly valid. The botting wont be so much of a problem for players as they level through the game together and promote the positive mindset we have tried to instil reaching endgame, but it will always be a big inconvenience and there’s nothing players can do about that, besides report bots.”

While Caszhar is delighted with how popular The Fresh Crusade has turned out, it sounds like organising the thing and keeping on top of the bulging Discord has been pretty stressful.

After The Fresh Crusade hit the headlines, some people tried to disrupt the project – an effort that has continued post-launch.

These people tried to “pre-level” by trying to guess the server The Fresh Crusade would be played on and level there beforehand. This upset some within the community who wanted to start on a level playing field.

And then there’s the predictable toxic behaviour from some that emerged as The Fresh Crusade grew in popularity throughout the week.

Despite this, Caszhar is in good spirits: “Now that it’s cooled down a bit and I’ve been able to immerse myself in the world with all the other people and take a step back from managing it all, I have been having an amazing time with all the players that are a part of this.”

Caszhar and co now plan to host server wide events to keep players interested, as well as another re-roll event to bring more people into the server for the pre-patch of Burning Crusade Classic. Caszhar expects Burning Crusade Classic to bring in even more players than Classic.

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Sports

Watt brothers carve outdoor ice bath, share photos of chill experience

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Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt apparently needed some time to cool off amid an eventful week that began when the NFL star announced Monday he would be joining the Arizona Cardinals.

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year reunited with his brothers T.J. Watt and Derek Watt — both of the Pittsburgh Steelers — as the trio partially submerged themselves in an outdoor makeshift ice bath, which they carved into a frozen body of water.

The brothers, who grew up in Wisconsin, appeared unphased by the likely frigid temperatures in photos they posted on Twitter on Thursday of the unique post-workout recovery method.

CARDINALS’ JJ WATT IN AWE OF PAT TILLMAN UPON ARRIVAL TO TEAM

J.J. Watt said they originally tried to use a chainsaw to create the recovery bath. When that didn’t work, they ended up using shovels and sheer manpower to open up a hole in the ice.

“This is so Wisconsin,” wrote the official Twitter account for the Washington Badgers football team. All three brothers played football for the Big Ten university.

Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) celebrates during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills in Houston, on Jan. 4, 2020. (Associated Press)

Users on social media were quick to react to the photos.

“I’m from Wisconsin and I’ve never seen anybody do this! Those Watt boys are nuts!” one user replied

CARDINALS’ JJ WATT REVEALS THE ‘ONE THING’ HE WANTS FOR TEXANS’ DESHAUN WATSON

“Yikes!! How long did you make it in the cold water before hopping out??” another asked.

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“You literally could’ve done this in Buffalo,” another user responded, apparently upset that Watt decided to join the Cardinals instead of the Buffalo Bills.



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World

Bokksu review: Experience Japan through snacks

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(CNN) —  

Many of us are still working from home, which we’ve all learned comes with some pros and cons. You don’t have to commute, but you’re finding it hard to log off your computer at the end of the day. You can wear sweatpants to work, but you can’t fall asleep because your brain has construed your bed as your new office. We’ve adjusted to many new things, but if there’s one dangerously tempting work-from-home habit that we just can’t kick, it’s snacking.

At this point, the 3 p.m. snack attack has become more or less a daily ritual. But if you’re like us, boring potato chips or a can of peanuts just isn’t doing it anymore. Switching to healthier snacks is a good way to mix things up, but if you’re the more adventurous type and love the sound of getting snacks from the other side of the globe delivered to your door every month, we’ve got just the thing: Bokksu

PHOTO:
Kai Burkhardt/CNN

Black Sesame Taiko and Organic Genmaicha Tea

Bokksu is a snack subscription box that helps you explore the culture of Japan through the country’s fun and exciting snacks and candies. The process is simple: All you have to do is sign up for one of the subscription plans, which are available for $49.95 per month (there are also gift subscriptions if you want to send snacks to someone else), then just wait until your box arrives and snack away.

Each box has a theme, with the first box always being the “Seasons of Japan” box, which has different snacks based on the seasons. After that, you’ll get a different theme every month. Some past themes have been Sweet Love, which included a strawberry sandwich cookie, baked chocolate and more, and Winter in Hokkaido, which had white raspberries, royal milk tea and more.

PHOTO:
Kai Burkhardt/CNN

Bokksu

Plus, if you get a snack that you absolutely love and want more, Bokksu has an online market where you can purchase individual treats, teas and more. You can browse by category or even past box themes so you can stock up on all your favorites.

The packages are filled with snacks, but they also come with a booklet that explains what each snack is and who it’s made by, along with any common allergens. This way, Bokksu highlights small businesses making delicious products from all over Japan. You can also learn more about these businesses on Bokksu’s website, where there are profiles on artisanal makers from all over Japan.

PHOTO:
Kai Burkhardt/CNN

Bokksu

We loved the idea of Bokksu so much that we got the initial “Seasons of Japan” Bokksu box shipped to us so we could try the snacks ourselves. After days of munching and crunching through our box, we were blown away by not only the amount and variety of little treats that were packed into the box but also the all-around deliciousness of the snacks.

There were sweet and savory snacks, from an edamame cracker and plum-flavored chips to a chocolate-infused strawberry and matcha chocolate stick cake. There were flavors and textures we’ve never tasted before, such as the Funwari Meijin Mochi Puffs, which were delightfully airy and crispy at the same time. We were glad there weren’t any popular Japanese snacks you could just find in the supermarket, like Pocky or Hi-Chew. Instead, each package was a whole new experience, and we never really knew what we were in for next.

All the treats were packed tightly and neatly in the box, and they made it largely unharmed through shipping. Some of the more delicate snacks were cracked, but nothing so severe that we were trying to eat a bag of crumbs.

PHOTO:
Kai Burkhardt/CNN

Bokksu booklet

We thoroughly enjoyed the booklet that came in the shipment too, as it explained what each snack was, which wasn’t always easy to decipher at first glance since much of the packaging is in Japanese. The booklet explains how each snack falls under the theme, which for our box meant an overview of celebrations and flavors commonly found in Japan throughout the seasons. For example, there were Mocchan Dango Mochi, which are little mochi balls normally eaten while viewing flowers in spring, and Dondon Yaki, which are little crisps named after the sounds of beating taiko drums you’d hear during a summer festival.

Some of our favorite snacks were the Aomori Apple Caramel Yakkoi Sable, which was a soft and chewy cookie; the Uni Rice Crackers, which had a delicious umami flavor from sea urchin; and the Puku Puku Tai: Chocolate, which was a fish-shaped wafer filled with an airy chocolate mousse.

PHOTO:
Kai Burkhardt/CNN

Puku Puku Tai: Chocolate

With a Bokksu subscription, not only do you get a cascade of delicious and exciting snacks, but with each bite you can learn more about the traditions and culture of Japan. So while you may not be able to travel to the land of the rising sun right now, with Bokksu you can turn your snack break into your next big adventure.

Bokksu is available in monthly subscriptions for $49.95, or you can save by purchasing longer subscriptions up front, such as the annual subscription for $479.40, which saves you $120 compared to having a standard monthly membership for one year.

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Entertainment

North West Gets Bob Ross Experience Invite After Haters Question Her Skill

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Exclusive

North West‘s oil painting — which some call Bob Ross-esque — actually caught the eyes of the folks keeping his legacy alive, and they wanna work with the young artiste.

Sarah Strohl from Bob Ross Inc. tells TMZ … they were thrilled to discover North’s painting — despite all the online haters it drew — and they’re looking to nurture her talent by inviting her to visit the Bob Ross Experience in Muncie, Indiana.

Sarah says everyone at the late and iconic American painter’s company is thrilled about Bob’s apparent influence on a new generation … represented by North.

If North accepts the invitation, we’re told she’ll get to check out Bob’s paintings, up close and in-person. She’ll also get a class in Bob’s wet-on-wet technique with a certified Ross instructor — that is, if she hasn’t mastered it already.

The venue itself is pretty legendary … it’s the refurbished studio where Bob filmed his beloved series “The Joy of Painting” from 1983 to 1994.

The visit would be pretty cool for any young artist, but especially for North … after all the bitter reaction to Kim Kardashian posting North’s work of art.

As we reported … Kim was pissed when haters came after North and questioned the authenticity of a piece she said North painted herself.

The haters don’t buy the 7-year-old did it herself, but Bob Ross Inc.’s interest is a strong affirmation … they’re believers.

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Science

NASA Perseverance Rover will experience a violent seven-minute descent to Mars

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One of the most challenging parts of putting any rover on the surface of Mars is the approximately seven-minute-long descent from orbit to the surface of the Red Planet. NASA is gearing up for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover to land on Mars about 20 days from now. Currently, Perseverance has about 23.9 million miles left on its 292.5 million mile trip to Mars.

The spacecraft is closing on Mars at a rate of 1.6 miles per second. Once the spacecraft reaches the atmosphere of Mars, its seven-minute descent will begin. The spacecraft will experience extreme heat with temperatures equivalent to the surface of the sun.

It will decelerate rapidly using a parachute that will inflate while the spacecraft is traveling at supersonic speeds. Wrapping up the harrowing landing process will be the first ever autonomous guided landing on Mars. After the landing is successfully completed, Perseverance can prepare to begin studying the surface of Mars.

We mentioned earlier this morning that one of its significant experiments would be deploying the Ingenuity helicopter to see if air travel is possible on Mars. The main reason for Perseverance to cruise the surface of Mars is to search for signs of ancient life and collect samples that will one day be returned to earth for study.

Perseverance was constructed using collective knowledge gained from past missions to Mars. Its operations team hopes that it will expand the knowledge of Mars and solve mysteries about the possibility of ancient life on Mars. Jezero Crater is where Perseverance will be landing, a dry 28-mile basin home to a River Delta and ancient Lake filled with water in the distant past. Perseverance is scheduled to arrive at Mars on February 18.

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