Posts with tag wrup

Welcome to WRUP, where we try to convince you that we're not spending all weekend shuffling every day Pandaren. No, really, we do other things, too. Like shower (occasionally), get some exercise so we don't become Pandaren-shaped, and even play with the offspring. (They're quite adorable.)

This week we asked your intrepid WoW Insider team what they like to do that isn't play video games. We're all multi-facted like that.

Allison Robert (@AllisonRobert) More work in heroics, possibly an LFR or Vaults run with the guildies depending on laziness (I'm betting we'll be lazy), and finally taking an organizational approach to my farm. At the moment, my favorite thing to do outside of WoW is drawing and painting, but otherwise you'll find me reading or jogging.

Welcome to WRUP, where we tell you what our intrepid staff is playing each weekend. We lead it off with whatever witty commentary comes to mind... or we blather on about something. Either way, we lead off every week with about 100 words before you get to the important stuff: the staff's Twitter handles.

Once upon a time, we got a nice mixture of different games each weekend. You'd ask the staff "WRUP?" and they'd answered with consoles, PC games, and even some physical outdoor activities. Now, there's this whole Panda and baby theme running throughout the staff. Clearly, if you work at WoW Insider, you're going to end up pregnant or a panda. P is involved no matter what you do.

For added bonus, we asked what the best thing about MoP was so far. That image comprise's most of Joe's answer.

Adam Holisky (@adamholisky) Dungeon running for our first raid next Tuesday. Can't wait! Also pet battles... my god they're fun.

The best part has to be the overall experience. I've never felt like there's too much to do in WoW before, but now, there is just an absolute ton at end game to enjoy.

Allison Robert (@AllisonRobert) I'm probably going to be playing Clean the Basement more than anything else this weekend, but any WoW play time is likely to be devoted to gearing my druid for, and in, heroics. Spare time is likely to be spent on archaeology or rep grinds.

Best part of MoP? There are so many good things -- my farm, pet battles, the sheer beauty of the world -- but if I had to boil it down to something, it's the opportunity not to be a hero for a bit. Sometimes it's really nice to just slow down and help someone with their vegetable patch or love life.

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Yawn -- oh, hi. Welcome to a lazy What aRe yoU Playing on a lazy late summer (super early fall?) afternoon. We're just hanging out here, looking all awesome. Also, someone glued us to a handrail, and it's kind of unpleasant.

Anyway, you all know the drill. Let us know what you're playing this weekend, and we'll return the favor. Got a great game you want us to all know about? Maybe you've got a hot new chicken recipe? Or you found a great new way home from work on Thursday? You can share all that too, we're not picky. After all, those who are glued to handrails can't really be beggars.

This week, we have a question for you guys (and for our columnists): This is our last weekend without Mists of Pandaria. How are you spending it?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Hey everyone! Welcome to What aRe yoU Playing! And, at the same time, welcome to episode three of The Fourth Hour!

Today's The Fourth Hour takes us to Irvine, California (but still somehow still in The Fourth Hour studios, according to Michele), where we visit with Mike Sacco, smell his hair, and then kill him. You don't want to miss this one, because Michele and I may not be available to make another one for another 10 to 20 years (court case pending).

After you're done subscribing to The Fourth Hour YouTube channel (cough cough, do it, cough), you can follow us after the break for a breathtaking round of WRUP! Oh boy!

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

I love Canadians. I don't know what it is, but there's something very appealing about having a culture so similar to that of the United States but so different at the same time. I mean, do you know what they do to french fries up there? They put gravy on them. Madness.

Of course, I learned everything I know about Canada from one place: the early 1990s comedy series Kids in the Hall. It was so delightfully absurd and yet so delightfully Canadian. The sketch above with Bruce McCulloch (as Tammy) is one of my all-time favorites. Not the all-time favorite -- but one of them.

Anyway, that's what's been amusing me for the last few weeks -- watching Kids in the Hall on Netflix. I know what'll amuse you, though: a hearty round of What aRe yoU Playing! So let's mosey on past the break and all share our lives with complete strangers, shall we?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Oh, hi. I wasn't expecting anyone here today -- we're closed. Closed for business. Yes sir, no WoW Insider today. Just a ship on autopilot until the next sunrise.

Why? Oh, you know, someone here at WoW Insider's just "AFK getting married." That's a pretty big deal. And while none of us were actually invited to the wedding (nah, whatevs, that's cool, I didn't want to go anyway), we did want to take the day off and pretend that was the reason. So yeah, this wedding here is kind of cool. And it's happening ... I don't know, somewhere in the Upper Midwest? Also there are puppets here? I don't know, I may just have had too many mimosas.

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Those of you who have been following my personal life know that I just moved to Southern California a month or two ago. There's been quite a bit of culture shock -- everything in LA is so pretty (minus the architecture) that even I, a relatively good-looking dude, felt a little insecure.

But did I wallow in despair? No, I did not, my friend -- I did something about it. I got a gym membership and a personal trainer. I went out and I got physical. I wanted to let them hear my body talk, my body talk.

I mean, I've been patient, I've been good, tried to keep my hands on the table. It's gettin' hard this holdin' back, you know what I mean? I'm sure you'll understand my point of view, we know each other mentally. You gotta know that you're bringin' out the animal in me.

So strap on your finest leg warmers, and envision this page covered with bright neon colors, unusual moving shapes, and the occasional '80s-style squiggle. After all, it's time to get physical with this week's WRUP!

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

About a month ago, Michele Morrow and I teased you with the first episode of The Fourth Hour, what we hoped would be a really epic, regular video series on gaming. And indeed, we still have plans for it. It's just that life happened in a very severe and intense way over at the Morrow household, and we had to put off taping for a while. (More about that later.)

Thankfully, though, Michele has worked through the personal cataclysm, and we finally got a chance to sit down this week to tape a new episode of The Fourth Hour. It's still in editing, but we didn't want you to go without. That's why we're going to share with you our camera test that we ran as a warm-up. And if last time's outtakes were any indication, it's going to be just as good as the full episode -- if not better.

This week's bonus question: Now that the Mists of Pandaria release date has been announced, it's time to decide. Are you buying a physical copy of the game, or are you going to just grab a digital download this year?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

HEY KIDS!

Do you love What aRe yoU Playing? Then get your free WRUP Fun Kit!

("The WRUP Fun Kit?")

You get an official certificate, awesome WRUP trading cards, and a sweet ID card. Even a special surprise on your birthday from Fox Van Allen!

(weird 1980s squiggle line pattern descends at a weird angle)

And the best news is you don't need to wait six to eight weeks for shipping and handling -- you can join in the WRUP fun now! Just follow us after the break and tell us what you're playing this weekend. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be able see what your favorite WoW Insider writer is playing, too! ("Oh, boy!")

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Welcome to WoW Insider, your source for all sorts of Tips N Trikks(TM) for the World of Warcraft game for your PC or Mac entertainment console. Are you ready for the coolest tricks? And the hottest cheat codes?! We won't tell Mom you're cheating if you don't!

(Radical!)

But hey, enough delay. Let's get to those Tips N Trikks(TM)!

(Tips N Trikks ... to the x-treme!)

In the mystical world of ... Azeroad ... you're tasked with beating all the bad guys and saving the princess. But do you know the best way to kill those bad guys?

• Use spells to attack. Spells cause damage! (Awesome!)
• Use physical abilities to attack. Use that sword, bro! (Whooooooooaaaaaaahhhhhh!)
• And when you need to pause the game, just press the power button! (Coooool Trikks ~)

What's your favorite Tip and/or Trikk? Let us know by writing us at "WoW Insider Tips N Trikks," P.O. Box 20283-B, Alameda, CA 94502. Or you can just leave a comment after the break telling us what you're playing this weekend. And you can read what all these other WoW Insider folks are playing, too! (Maxi-tota-rad!)

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Why hello, everyone! Happy weekend to you all! I mean, it's almost the weekend, right? The time to spend an hour expertly styling your hair, dress in a mask, and leer at some acrobat dude who's not wearing a shirt. Oh, wait. No. That was last weekend.

Anyway, my friend Michele Morrow needed a little bit of a break from her The Fourth Hour hosting duties this week. She's got a sick cat, you see, and a flooded apartment. So we needed some lovely bit of filler for WRUP. (Filler?! In WRUP?! Can you believe such a thing?!)

Adam Holisky suggested I take that terrible picture of myself and open it up to a caption contest. Winner gets to attend a live taping of The Fourth Hour. Airfare, hotel, meals definitely not included. TFH has a budget of $0, thank you very much. And while you're entering that non-binding fake contest, be sure to let us know what you're playing this weekend. Because that's just how WRUP rolls.

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Many of you know that I recently moved from Boston to Los Angeles. And now that I'm living in the entertainment capital of the world, it's time to kick up the Fox Van Allen experience a notch. After all, writing is cool, but all the really awesome people are making videos. So I hooked up with my friend Michele Morrow (writer! actress! Spirit Hood ambassador!) to create a new show, The Fourth Hour. And if it's cool with all of you, we'd like to premiere it here on WoW Insider. Like, right now.

Why call it The Fourth Hour? It's an homage to the final hour of NBC's Today show, when serious journalism takes a sideline to the alcohol-fueled antics of Kathie Lee and Hoda. An unintentional homage, to be sure, but one filled with WoW, gaming talk, special guests, and pretty people you're evolutionarily predisposed to want to mate with. This week's special guest is a familiar face -- or at least familiar voice -- to all you WoW Insider folks: former writer Mat McCurley.

You should totally subscribe to The Fourth Hour's YouTube channel. Then tell all your friends about it. Like it on Twitterbook. Write your congressman about it too, just in case.

In addition to the pilot episode above, you can check out the outtakes video -- all the good stuff that just didn't fit the 10-minute format -- after the break. You can also peek into the lives of my fellow WoW Insider writers, since this is WRUP. Oh,and you can share with us exactly what you're doing in the World of Warcraft and what other games you're playing, too.

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Has this ever happened to you? Driving is important (cut to black-and-white image of woman driving a car), but trying to make out other vehicles in standard definition? What a chore! (Woman crashes, throws hands up in despair.)

Or how about this? All your friends have new MacBook Pros with Retina Displays, and here you are (cut to black-and-white of man shaking his head at his laptop with frustration), looking with your own two non-HD eyes at a MacBook Air? (Man throws MacBook Air in trash, puts hands on hips, lets out exasperated sigh.) There has to be a better way!

Well, there is! Suffer through non-HD reality no more! Introducing new HD glasses! They can be yours for just $19.95, plus a massively punitive shipping and handling charge. But wait -- act now and we'll throw in this week's WRUP absolutely free. Think that's all? Oh no, you even get a bonus question: What's your favorite level 90 talent?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

I have terrific news you guys. No one left WoW Insider forever this week. No one went off to start a new life across the country. Yours truly is here, in charge of WRUP, and sharing with you a nonsensical video to get your weekend started right.

It is as it was meant to be. Mostly because everyone here has spent the last seven days locked in cages to prevent their escapes.

Anyway, ladykin and menfolk, it's time to get out your NES Advantage knockoff, enter your favorite cheat codes, and tell us: What are you playing this weekend?

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff 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!

Hello, everyone! I've finally returned from my pseudo-vacation roadtrip across the country. It was a lot of fun. I got to meet Anne Stickney (again), see a dude freak out on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives, go skydiving, check out the Art of Videogames exhibit at The Smithsonian, survived being stranded for 10 hours in the blazing California desert, and -- well, it was pretty damn action-packed.

But as much as I'd love to regale you with tales of my adventure, we have some sadness today. Beloved WoW Insider columnist Mat McCurley has gone to a better place. (The better place, in this case, being a totally rocking job with Riot, the folks who make League of Legends.) If you're the type who reads WoW Insider without checking out the bylines, it's hard to fathom how much of a loss this is. Mat is a huge part of what makes WoW Insider what it is.

I first met Mat as part of a somewhat impromptu one-day trip. Mike Sacco and I drove from Massachusetts down to New York city, meeting up with McCurley and (then writer) Rich Stoneybaby Maloy for a really awesome evening or drinking and WoW talk. By the next morning, the groundwork for one of the most amazing working friendships I've ever had was laid.

My favorite thing about Mat was his almost child-like enjoyment of WoW. He shows such an incredible enthusiasm for the game that it's infectious. If you met him at BlizzCon or saw him perform at PAX East, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It really sucks that we're losing Mat as a columnist. The only consolation: He's going to go on to do even more amazing things for Riot. And also he's going to come out to live in Los Angeles, right down the street from me. Awesome.

And making matters worse, we're also losing Kelly Aarons here at WoW Insider as well. I wish I knew Kelly as well as I knew Mat, but I never got a chance to drive up to Canada. From what I do know about her, though, she's awesome. Her drawings were awesome. Byron rules.

As a farewell, I figured I'd republish Mat's Birthday Wish one last time. It was an epic effort on my part -- a children's book I wrote to pay tribute to one of the coolest dudes out there in the WoW-verse. And while we're WRUPing, we'll all answer this week's bonus question: What's your favorite Mat McCurley/Kelly Aarons moment?