Friday Humor: The Great Scam

I was a bit uneasy about posting this epic MMORPG story by "Nightfreeze" in the Friday Humor section because, while it inspires laughter from some, it inspires anger or even sadness in others.

For example, take one of my favorite lines from the tale: "I logged off AIM and ran like a starving coyote chasing down his dinner. I ran like Steve Prefontaine if he had had a second chance with the grim reaper to run home drunk instead of drive, the only condition being that he would have to make it back before the car did." Is it funny? Depressing? Mean? Thrilling?

It's a subjective matter I suppose, just as the author's description of a "nerf" might be considering "balancing" by others.

But, I believe it was written (and written well) with a humorous intent and I felt it worthy of sharing. It's also a long, engrossing, tale, best suited for a weekend.

The story involves the MMORPG Eve Online and the adventures of Nightfreeze, who goes from lowly miner to hard-working trader to the perpetrator of a tremendous scam only to...well, I'll let you read for yourself. What's especially fascinating is the relationship between the online game and real life. Again, how you feel about the scam is subjective. Is it griefing? Gamesmanship? Social Engineering?

The story can be found here.

This story has been passed around the net a lot, even appearing on a list of ten great examples of "New Games Journalism" (whatever that is).

I actually know where the story first came from. It was written by a member (or "goon" as they prefer to be called) of the Something Awful forums. I remember refreshing the discussion thread it was posted in over and over, waiting for the next installment.

Hmm...does that count as New Games Journalism?