Big News Of The Week
Blizzard Erects A Gearscore Of Their Own
In what can only be described as a natural next step for WoW, Blizzard announced the forthcoming Equipment Potency Equivalence Number system today, much to the surprise of… no one. With this new system, you’ll no longer have to wonder about your perceived or actual worth as a player. Your Equipment Potency Equivalence Number, automatically derived from the quality of the gear you currently possess, will be placed on your character sheet and in the Armory, and also displayed over your character’s head in-game as an easy-to-read bar-like object that steadily grows as you acquire loot. Thanks to this new system, no one will be able to ignore the fruits of your long, hard journey toward gear perfection.
Rumors And Scuttlebutt
World First Solo Of A Northrend Raid Dungeon
We don’t have solid, unimpeachable proof of this yet, but it looks like a druid on the US Garrosh server has become the first player to solo Naxxramas, presumably on 10-man mode, this week, according to both videos of the feat and witnesses who saw the realm first achievement displayed.
Blizzard Set To Announce Secret “Next-Gen” MMO
This is pure rumor, but it comes from the guys who got every detail of what was announced at Blizzcon last year correct almost two weeks in advance, so we’re going to go with it. At the Liepzig Interactive Entertainment Conference in two weeks – April 16 – Activision is expected to put on the dog, with a full house seeing for the first time… “Future Chaos Cronicles: The Zero Sum Agenda”. It’s a shooter, and an MMO, with a spy/espionage theme, totally new IP, and from all we’re hearing about the setup at the Liepzig Interactive Entertainment Conference, it’s going to be the biggest announcement of all time.
Morhaime Wants To See WoW, The Primetime TV Series
In an interview with Game World magazine this week, Mike Morhaime not only gave us a strong signal that the forthcoming World Of Warcraft feature film will be in theaters during the Summer of 2011, but he introduced plans for that movie to spawn a television series that Blizzard is pitching to the major networks. “Collector’s Edition” is the working title of the show, and Morhaime said “It’s the natural progression for us that this excellent intellectual property find it’s way into every type of media outlet available, and television is just the perfect fit for the story we want to tell that follows the story we’re telling in the movie.”
Town Cryer
Raymundoo from the Ghostlands Server writes: I am a level 67 shadow priest and I was wondering what would be the best tree to build for a healer. I heard Randy uses the disipline tree and it works for him greatly. I thought Holy would be the best way to go because its the purest one from what it looks like. I want to respec because I want to start learning how to heal for end game content. I just wanted to know, what is the difference between the two and what would you prefer for dungeons/raids?
Drop Of The Week
Everybody Needs Someone. Someone To Love.
As we reported late last year, Blizzard has high hopes for the applicability of their in-game grouping system to enable entirely different, yet profitable businesses. This week they opened the Battle.net Matchmaking System, a combination LFG, website community, and… personals ads. We think you should check it out.
Additional show content provided by Darrell the Tipgiver, Steve “Buxley” Pietrowicz, James “Acuzod” Jefferies and the outstanding Instance Community.
Special thanks to DogHouse Systems, FigurePrints!, TypeFrag and SquareSpace for sponsoring this episode.
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you realize we can’t believe a word you say today?
;]
Equipment Potency EquivalencE Number = EPEEN… nice.
OK, i’m completly confuse! you guys are so professional that i can only believe everything you say.
Funny, but recycled content as we’ve already read all this on the official site. Hopefully there’s still a regular Instance this coming week
This was a horrible episode, hopefully a regular episode will come out tomorrow.
You get a Cock as a pet reward, how appropriate it that?
Nice Show.
I loved this episode. Those who criticize or complain are dumb.
I realize that this was the April fools episode and all but don’t you think you went a little far? I was rather annoyed the entirety of listening to the podcast and ended up turning it off. I listen to the podcast to get informed and receive some good solid information but this whole episode was full of BS. I understand you want some fun but the whole episode? P.S. my birthday is on 10/10 whats so bad about it hahaha.
I do enjoy the show though just this was a bit,well a lot too much. Thanks guys!
Yeah I concur. It was funny, even hilarious at first, but tbh it went on a little too far. Maybe I just don’t have the same stamina to my sense of humour as you guys.
I enjoyed the episode, guys. To all of the naysayers out there, either quit complaining, or avoid the internet on April 1st.
Chill out guys, its only a bit of fun. The fact you are saying they took ‘fun’ too far is a tad strange don’t you think?
Ok, so I totally forgot yesterday was April Fool’s Day and I was flailing at so many things on the show! Guess what happened when I realized I had been had hook, line and sinker!? I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF. Seriously. Jeez first of all this is a game and we’re supposed to be having fun. Great episode and I can’t believe I txted my mom all excited for the WoW television show!!! HAHA. Long live the fools like me!!
Pingback: Did you become an April fool?? « The Warrior's Rage
Of course, we never intended to make listeners feel foolish. Our goal was to see how far we could hold it together in the roles we cast for ourselves. We had a ton of fun, and the submissions from the regulars at the end of the show were priceless.
Ah…so…I downloaded this yesterday but was stuck in meetings all day so I decided to listen today. Got about halfway through the EPEeN part, and when the announcement of skipping queues etc came up was thinking “weak blizzard.” Then it hit me that I downloaded it yesterday.
Friggin classic. Especially the reference to listening to an hour of fake news.
Made my day (1 day late)
So, it took you 3 years before you decided to pull another one of these, huh?
lol great show guys – I was getting mad about the GS changes until I looked at the date. Got me!
Ok this was a very sub-par show (not very funny….) UNTIL Ding Pong called in!! I LOVE THAT guy…You guys need to bring Ding Pong on as regular!
Awesome guys. You put some work into this one, and I enjoyed the whole thing. I enjoyed the call back to the Druid solo’ing Naxx…you used that one a few April fool’s days ago, well done.
Get show guys. anyone who can’t have fun on April Fools day my favorite holiday can pound sand for all i care.
Instead of Jingle Bell, it should have been from “Holly Day.” You could have asked if she was related to Felicia Day.
Loved the episode from start to finish! Thanks guys!
I’m sure those who are bitterly complaining will recieve a full and prompt refund of the purchase price.
Meh. The joke got old quick. The “personas” you took on were amazingly dry and I missed much of the comic back and forth that I listen for. It seemed you both had to agree with the story or the joke would fail. To be honest it was like listening to NPR. It was the first episode I turned off mid way through. I hate April Fools Day. Have a good easter and god bless (if you are into that sort of thing
).
I think randy lives nextdoor to me. no joke.
When you said that it is the stance of this show that kids should usurp their parents to play world of warcraft I was DYING in my car. I was at a stop light too and most have looked like an idiot. Great show guys. For the complainers, this is a show about a GAME in which we play for FUN, lighten up!
Well met. However, next time put 40 min of dead air at the end of the podcast…I sniffed a rat when I saw it was only about 55 min long.
Great episode! Note to the complainers, its April 1st, have some fun!
lol that episode was awesome! you guys had me researching for hours looking for info on that druid solo’ing naxx hehe, keep up the great work guys!
This was by far the lamest attempt at an April Fool’s joke I have ever seen. Normally I savor every minute of The Instance and tried to give this April Fool’s satire a chance but it didn’t take long for me to click on the 2x speed button and proceed onto more worthwhile things to do with my time like run another person through Gnomeregan for the umpteenth time.
Got to say that I found it funny although I saw through it straight away. My main reason for seeing through it was the blizzard equipent potency bar – had seen it on mmo and linked to blizzard site – and the reason I saw it in the first place was that I was looking to see what april fools jokes blizzard would come up with. You should have found something else imo lol. Was also funny to hear you two trying not to laugh all the way through hehe. Good job thought guys. I did miss having a REAL show tbh – but this was cool too
Keep up the great work – great show always.
K I was not in the spirit of AFD in my first note. News flash I never will be, but I do have an idea for next year. Have Mike Schramm and Turpster host as if
1. The both of you have quit (because of the frustration caused from reading comments) or
2. They have always been hosting the Instance (bizzarro world style).
Great show guys, as with some of the previous commenters I had already read about EPEEN etc on other sites but still funny to hear you guys trying to make it sound serious
The funniest part for me was thinking about how much hate mail and comments you guys will have to endure for doing this again, which is what inspired me to come post a comment for the first time.
Im glad that after last time you did an AFD instance you werent put off completely
To everyone moaning – no one makes you listen to the whole show, just turn off and wait for the next episode when normal service is resumed
Okay, I didn’t realize it was an April Fool’s episode until I read the part about the EPEEN being posted above your toon’s head. That was the tipoff. Also, the minute you started telling that kid (retarded orc voice?) to go against their parents’ wishes…nice.
While I do applaud your ingenuity, it was a bit of a downer (sorry) to realize that probably most of the show was a big fib, but that is my problem. Your show was still done professionally, with lots of fun, and you guys didn’t miss a beat. So on a scale of 1-10, I’d give you your usual 10, but the little kid in me gives you a 3 – cause fibbing is still wrong. LOL! Keep up the good work.
This is the fist time i have put a comment on one of the show notes. I have been listening to The Instance for 2 years now and I think this episode was FANTASTIC! I was laughing or smiling through the whole thing.
I don’t understand why some people would be upset about this episode. It was in fun and not meant to upset anyone. Randy and Scott, you did a great job. Thanks for putting on a great show and I appreciate everything you guys do for this community.
Good fun. Thanks Scott and Randy!
Lighten up haters.
Greatest episode ever! I actually hunted down your site for the first time in years of listening to tell you this. absolutely amazing, funny informative and well worth the $17.00 i had to pay that Asian guy to get it off the internets
Boo! Boo! I boo this episode. I’m ok with an April Fools gag, but the whole show was a little much. I’m a big fan and I’m not trying to be mean, but I did not like this show.
This would have been funny if most of the content had not been Blizzard’s April Fool’s material. Your regular shows are much funnier, as well as being insightful and informative.
Where can I find this porno?
Listening to this on April 7 while working was as confusing as all get out… until I realised the recording date. Well done guys, lovely spoof.
I for one welcome having a giant EPEEN waving over my dorf’s head.
Great show guy’s really had me going until i got to the end and figured out the date…it was a DOH! moment for me
Ok, I love you guys, but this wasn’t funny because you just reported jokes from the web (old content) and didn’t put a funny spin on it. I’m sorry, but talking about them in depth so dry just added nothing. This isn’t hating on you or AFD. I’m just saying it wasn’t funny.
The one funny part of the show was the call-in. And that was it. Maybe next year.
I love the show but this was a LAME episode, I stopped listening in the middle of it.
April’s fool isn’t funny anymore, everyone expects it and no one believes anything. Listening to podcasts or reading news sites on April 1st is usually a big waste of time and this show was no exception.
So you either (a) don’t do an episode on April 1st or (b) say upfront you are serious and won’t do any stupid attempts to “fool” anyone and do a regular show or (c) do something really original and funny
This episode was none of the above.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m only saying this because I am used to the very high standards of this usually excellent show.
A better April Fools Joke would have simply been to come on like you did with your other podcast and tell everyone that you are canceling the instance to pursue other interests or because you had wife aggro and then just left it at that.
The episode that just keeps on giving. After having people in the chat room go on and on and on about “why aren’t you talking about Blizzard’s April Fools Jokez??!???!” – to have people in the comments claim that that’s ALL we did is just hysterical.
Of course, the show was about half credulous reporting of Blizzard’s fiction, and about half stuff we made up ourselves.
This was the BEST episode ever.
Thanks Scott and Randy!
I listen to The Instance because there is NO better WoW show out there, and it’s where I get my WoW news and commentary. However, this show was such a waste of a weekly show, and I didn’t laugh even once. I normally love the show, but every now and then something on the show will happen that makes me wish there was something better out there. Up to this point, there isn’t…so continue to listen I shall.
Well, thanks alot …
I listened to this episode while playing and got so thoroughly annoyed with the changes announced. Wasn’t even 10 minutes into the podcast when I decided to end it all. I have (or had) 100k+ gold and bought only the most expensive stuff on the ah and put it back on ah for 1g each. Then I deleted the wow game folder, cancelled my subscription and crushed my communicator. I’m was never gonna play this shitty game again.
Few days later I for some reason listen to the rest of the podcast and realize that it’s all BS… Thanks alot guys
…. and of course I’m being just as serious as you were in this episode. And a bit over the top :p
The druid solo thing and maybe the Equipment Potatoe Equiviva…. something …. mixed into an otherwise regular episode might have caused many more to scour the web for more info (that would be funny).
This was just to obvious. Fun, but too obvious
that’s pretty good wizardhat.