Requirements

Positivity and humor is a key requirement for this project. We’re not looking for people to rant about MMORPGs, developers, or anything of that nature. Satirical ranting is, of course, an exception to the rule! We want upbeat, light-hearted, and generally fun content.

Dedication is our second most important requirement. Epic Slant Press is looking for individuals who are willing and able to consistently come up with content on a timely basis. This arrangement will differ for all writers depending on how much responsibility they wish to take on but a good rule of thumb is one article a week.

Gamers only please. This is an MMORPG humor site and you’ll likely be a hard sell if you don’t play some sort of game! We’ll even take one of those nasty console gamers! Maybe even a Magic player!

The Perks

Epic Slant Press would, eventually, like to convert all humorist positions into paying positions. Currently that is not the case! All humorists will get a share of any profits that are made by the entire Epic Slant Press network regardless of which division is making money. Profits are currently lower than a gnome monk’s DPS (non-existent).

Network Status by itself does have some rewards. As a “larger” site that is part of a network you’ll have greater access to developers and support from other writers. Multi-writer sites are busier and tend to generate more traffic. You will also be able to advertise your own projects and thus, in theory, generate more traffic for yourself. Epic Slant Press will also offer some financial support to anyone going to a convention/trade show in a capacity that represents the network.

How to Apply

If you’re interested in joining our little band send an email to Ferrel[at]epicslant.com. Include some important details like your name, your handle (Ferrel is my handle), any projects you’re currently working on, how often you believe you can submit content, and one item from table F. We do consider this application very serious even though this is a humor site. Spell check, grammar check, and be sure it is funny! Keep all submissions relatively “Safe For Work” please.

Table F
A 600-1000 word article that show cases your prowess.
A funny drawing/comic/image that highlights your talent.
A media we’ve not considered that is equally funny.

Grand Prize Winner: Matt H. (A copy of the box, a Fallen Earth t-shirt, messenger bag, and Icarus Studios padfolio)
Runner Up Winners: Anonymous, Peter, Harrymanback, and Amanda (A copy of the box and a FE t-shirt)

Best Contest Name: Matt (A different one) (A FE account key)
Best Contest Reason to play: Dan Hogarth (A FE account key)
Best Contest Questions: Kyraine the ranger, Darth Adams, Green Armadillo (who passed to…), Tayluka (A FE account key)

When you’re in a situation that EverQuest II finds itself in when is enough enough? When do you look at a feature that is wreaking havoc on your players and pull the plug? It is an interesting concept to me. Obviously SOE has invested a lot of hours in developing these battlegrounds. They represent a significant cost for the company but they seem to be doing more harm to the core product than good. What is the threshold before it is time to just take one for the team and say, “no thank you sir, this won’t work for now?” At any rate I really do applaud and appreciate the EQ2 team for pulling these things out. It was really frustrating my guild mates and myself. Having the courage to do so really should be recognized. I realize most people would prefer to look at the negative but I think it takes a bigger team to pull a broken feature out than to just try to plow through and fix it.

Was this a good decision to make? I think so. I’d be interested to hear everyone else’s view on it though. Should you pull large features out of MMOs?

Discussion around here has really started to fall these last few months and I think my voice on design has started to slack. Without the passion the articles just don’t generate a buzz and there is enough of this out there already. I’ve also fallen into the trap of the podcast. I’m a host on two different ones and would like to find a third. I’m a better orater than writer and I really enjoy the shows. What is in store for Epic Slant then?

I have no intention of closing the site. I just want to try something new. Occasionally I’ll do a write up on a dungeon or game and that always generates a lot of traffic. My Champion Online guide and my Epic Pet War articles are still my top read posts each month. I enjoy doing that sort of thing and sharing my perspective on a game I play. I’m also pretty stoked about the advice column so “Ask a Guild Leader” is here to stay (if you guys will keep submitting questions)! Beyond that I want to stick to the occasional soap box and continue to stay away from the news. I know that is the hot ticket but I just don’t care enough to give my opinion on every story that comes out.

It may come as a surprise to some of you that the United States is not one of the leaders in internet availability, pricing and quality. This is usually pawned off with the argument that our nation is “too large” to compete with smaller, more dense countries. This of course is false but it does make a good story. At any rate I wonder how MMO companies view ISPs? Do they see them as barriers to new markets? Has there ever been any thought to cut out the middle man? For some reason I can somewhat see a Blizzard ISP to ensure an ecosystem for their MMOs and Battle.net. Would they go out and try to help communities that offer potential business but can’t reach the service reliably? My guess is no but it would certainly be interesting to see. At any rate, I close with a quote that is interesting to ponder. It related to electricity but could easily now serve in regards to internet connectivity.

I therefore lay down the following principle: That where a community—a city or county or a district—is not satisfied with the service rendered or the rates charged by the private utility, it has the undeniable basic right, as one of its functions of Government, one of its functions of home rule, to set up, after a fair referendum to its voters has been had, its own governmentally owned and operated service. – FDR