CO-INCIDENCE BETWEEN PLAYING KINGDOM OF LOATHING AND BEING A GIANT McDORKLE - A STUDY

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009

LUDINGTON, MI

We, the writing staff of the Nullset, have noticed that we all play the cult hit browser-based MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) Kingdom of Loathing. While admittedly a satire of typical MMOs, the game is clearly designed by people who know their way around pop culture and geek references and geek-game mechanics. So, without further ado, we’d like our lives to speak for themselves:

Name: Big Bearded Word Machine

KoL Character, Level, and Current Class: Urgh the Merciless III, Level 15 Seal Clubber

KoL Member since: December 2006, but my current account began November 22, 2008.

KoL Clan Membership: Old CW’s Germ-Free Clan

KoL Clan Karma Points: 50,880

KoL Trophies Acquired: 7

KoL Tattoos Acquired: 16

Number of KoL-related Websites You Routinely Use: 2

Number of KoL-ers You Convinced To Join Your Clan: 2

Number of People Convinced to Join KoL Because of You: 5

Other Special KoL-related Facts: On my 3^rd membership due to forgetfulness. Still annoyed that my irreplaceable Crimborg armor is now totally beyond my reach.

Highest Educational Level Achieved: Master of Arts (Medieval Studies), University of York

Current Employment: Substitute teacher, part-time bookkeeper, IT consultant

Geeky Interests: Fantasy/sci-fi literature, martial arts movies, table-top roleplaying, video games, anime, medieval/ancient history, tactics, weaponsmithing, mythology

Geeky Activities: Involving myself in same

Geeky Obsession None of Your Friends Share: My love for the Japanese animated franchise collectively called “Gundam”.

Other Special Geek-related Facts: I author a website wherein I routinely tell people things like this about myself.

Name: Pantomime King

KoL Character, Level, and Current Class: Fenrir8806, Level 29 Disco Bandit

KoL Member since: January 4^th, 2007

KoL Clan Membership: Old CW’s Germ-Free Clan

KoL Clan Karma Points: 51,802

KoL Trophies Acquired: 24

KoL Tattoos Acquired: 42

Number of KoL-related Websites You Routinely Use: 3

Kingdom of Buffing

KoL Wiki

Old CW’s External Forums

Number of KoL-ers You Convinced To Join Your Clan: 2

Number of People Convinced to Join KoL Because of You: 4

Other Special KoL-related Facts: I am way too into the game, to the point of attempting to collect everything, even going as far as to donate actual real money to get the special items of the month. Also have used my donations to ensure that my friends do not have their accounts deleted.

Highest Educational Level Achieved: Currently pursuing two BS degrees (Michigan Tech)

Electrical Engineer

Computer Engineer

Current Employment: None

Geeky Interests: Fantasy/sci-fi literature, Star Trek, table-top roleplaying, video games, ping pong

Geeky Activities: Involving myself in above

Geeky Obsession None of Your Friends Share: The Metal Gear Series

Other Special Geek-related Facts: I am currently attending Michigan Technological University, need I say more? I guess I will. I am introduced to new and exciting things then I surpass the person who introduced me to said thing.

Name: The Mad Piano Man

KoL Character, Level, and Current Class: Major General Music, Level 12 Sesame Soothsayer

KoL Member since: December 2006, current account since December 15, 2007.

KoL Clan Membership: Old CW’s Germ-Free Clan

KoL Clan Karma Points: 51,699

KoL Trophies Acquired: 10

KoL Tattoos Acquired: 22

Number of KoL-related Websites You Routinely Use: 2

Number of KoL-ers You Convinced To Join Your Clan: 1

Number of People Convinced to Join KoL Because of You: 1

Other Special KoL-related Facts: On my 2^nd membership due to forgetfulness. Really wish I had that tiny plastic sword. So much for that cherry bomb.

Highest Educational Level Achieved: Bachelor of Music, Hope College.

Current Employment: Substitute teacher, freelance musician, private music instructor in voice, piano, and music theory, and summer camp staff

Geeky Interests: Choral & vocal music performance, Western music history, theology, history in general, fantasy literature, martial arts films, casual fantasy roleplay

Geeky Activities: Being involved in the above. Trying to get back into music research.

Geeky Obsession None of Your Friends Share: Western music history. No one touches it except my musical colleagues.

Other Special Geek-related Facts: I’m a geek poser. In summer, you’d think I was a surf rocker.

So there you have it. You have been warned. Now run.