WoW Addict Raids Alone with 36 Characters, 11 Computers

Logan Frederick

New member
Aug 19, 2006
1,963
0
0
WoW Addict Raids Alone with 36 Characters, 11 Computers



In one of the most impressive acts of geekness ever confirmed, one dedicated World of Warcraft raider has organized a personal command center with eleven computers running some of his 36 different characters so he can play alone.

World of Warcraft is a massively-multiplayer online game, which implies that players will be palling around with hundreds of others in an online world. The situation becomes trickier if you're the sort of antisocial gamer who doesn't like gaming with strangers, but enjoys MMOGs.

The Bradster is one such fellow who has devised his own solution to this solitary conundrum: spend your way to private virtual experience.

For $5,711 a year, comprised of 36 separate accounts on a six-month subscription schedule, not to mention additional costs for the eleven computers simultaneously running World of Warcraft, Bradster has built himself a digital fortress, an army of electronics that might make MI6 tremble. When the expansion Wrath of the Lich King is released, he expects to drop another $1,500 for 36 copies to transfer his characters to the additional content and kick more Alliance ass.

Bradster explained his reason for wanting to run his own Warcraft army, "The main reason is to invade Stormwind and Ironforge when they reach top level. I'm sure the Alliance will put up a big fight when that happens. We'll see how it goes. If they don't make level 70 before Wrath of the Lich King, then it will be at level 80. That is my main goal. That will probably happen after I've got some PvP gear from the battlegrounds."

His characters are comprised of 33 shaman, most at level 61, and a priest, mage and druid around level 23.

Using the program Octopus and other macro keys across one keyboard and mouse combo, eight of his eleven computers can be controlled at once, allowing for the simultaneous action and instances across all screens.

There are many impressive feats of gaming where people stock their shelves with classic games, perhaps spending fortunes for rare titles or hours in an arcade to set a world record. However, it is even rarer to find one who dedicates so much time and money for the sake of playing alone in a multiplayer-only game.

The entire expensive ordeal is worth the investment to the Bradster, who claims that he's "looking at it like it's a hobby and there are more expensive hobbies out there than World of Warcraft."

When you spend $6,000-plus in a year, there aren't many.

Source: Ripten [http://www.ripten.com/2008/10/10/wow-whore-has-36-accounts-raids-by-himself/]

Permalink
 

Logan Frederick

New member
Aug 19, 2006
1,963
0
0
The_root_of_all_evil post=7.73882.814357 said:
Grief Logan, we've had this one for days ;)

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.73810
Heh, well, I had found it Saturday, but since we are only a Monday through Friday news site, the story wasn't available until today. Perhaps someday we'll cover weekends.
 

COR 2000

New member
Jun 30, 2008
1,441
0
0
Logan Frederick post=7.73882.814575 said:
The_root_of_all_evil post=7.73882.814357 said:
Grief Logan, we've had this one for days ;)

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.73810
Heh, well, I had found it Saturday, but since we are only a Monday through Friday news site, the story wasn't available until today. Perhaps someday we'll cover weekends.
Regardless, this is still hilarious. And Awesome. Yet expensive.
 
Feb 13, 2008
19,430
0
0
Logan Frederick post=7.73882.814575 said:
The_root_of_all_evil post=7.73882.814357 said:
Grief Logan, we've had this one for days ;)

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.73810
Heh, well, I had found it Saturday, but since we are only a Monday through Friday news site, the story wasn't available until today. Perhaps someday we'll cover weekends.
Well, you could always hire one of us? :)
 

Lvl 64 Klutz

Crowsplosion!
Apr 8, 2008
2,338
0
0
Beowulf DW post=7.73882.814591 said:
So impressive, and yet so sad.

I honestly feel sorry for this guy.
You know, I think it's pathetic, but I see no reason to feel sorry for him. It's his choice to spend his life and a good chunk of his cash on a single commitment. Not much different from philanthropy, and we all have to believe in something.
 

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
45,698
1
0
I generally try not to bash other people's gaming habits because to each his own, you know, and I'm more than just a little familiar with what it's like to spend a good chunk of your time, money, life, etc., on a hobby that most people think is a bit dubious for adults at best, and probably more commonly, an infantile refusal to grow up. But man, this guy has a problem.
 

PurpleRain

New member
Dec 2, 2007
5,001
0
0
I'm sad now. This is quite depressing. All that money wasted that could have gone to porn and chips.

Wait a sec, how does he even play 36 characters at once? Or is he just really fast at switching keyboards?
 

TheBluesader

New member
Mar 9, 2008
1,003
0
0
Sometimes I think my casual knowledge of Star Trek and internets humor may make me unattractive to most members of the female sex.

Then I talk to friends who spend 20 hours a week improving their stats on Guitar Hero, or I see an article about the Bradster, and I realize I may indeed have a competitive edge.

Pity the ladies, though. What fantastic options.
 

Tiamat666

Level 80 Legendary Postlord
Dec 4, 2007
1,012
0
0
Wow.

If that guy had studied medicine and put that kind of dedication into it, he'd cured AIDS and cancer by now.

I'm impressed by dedication, but I still think that that guy should do something about his sociophobia. There's more to life than World of Warcraft.
 

Amnestic

High Priest of Haruhi
Aug 22, 2008
8,946
0
0
PurpleRain post=7.73882.816345 said:
I'm sad now. This is quite depressing. All that money wasted that could have gone to porn and chips.

Wait a sec, how does he even play 36 characters at once? Or is he just really fast at switching keyboards?
Article says he's using a program called Octopus. I can only assume it's a bit like KeyClone and duplicates your keypresses for other computers hooked up to it...or something. I don't know how it really works, I just know multiboxers use it. Little bit sad that he's made this setup for PvP. I was kinda hoping we'd see a full 25 man alongside a 10 man raid being executed simultaneously by one multiboxer. *That* would be epic.

This is cool. It's a little sad as well. Don't forget the skyrocketing electric bill he'll have for running all of those computers at once ;(
 

DannyDamage

New member
Aug 27, 2008
851
0
0
Impressive yes, but sad at the same time. I think this guy would implode if he saw a real life woman or if he became involved in any kind of outdoor activity.

Is this him?
[img src="http://www.realnets.com/jye/southpark_wow2.jpg" /img]
 

Melaisis

New member
Dec 9, 2007
1,014
0
0
A.Balthazor post=7.73882.821575 said:
Wouldn't it be less costly to just pay people to play with him and obey his commands?
Something I've considered for a while TBH. Except paying them using gold. And for WPVP raids. Still an interesting tactic, and could really signal a start of the pro side of MMOs (not just really good guilds with huge amounts of sponsorship).
 

Redlac

New member
Dec 12, 2007
184
0
0
It's people like this that put my occasional MMO addiction into perspective. Sure, I might be up into the wee ours every now and then on FFXI.. but I know that there are people way more addicted than I.

He gets some serious Geek Kudos though.