Everything's Broken

Everything's Broken substack, curated by Scott Jennings, delves into a wide array of subjects like political dynamics, digital culture, gaming innovations, and contemporary challenges in social media. It frequently critiques public figures and platforms, dissects conflicts, and explores the intricate balance between technology, politics, and entertainment.

Politics Gaming Technology & Social Media Conflict and War Entertainment Critique Leadership and Governance Cultural and Political Analysis

The hottest Substack posts of Everything's Broken

And their main takeaways

Classes Trolls Can Be In EQ: Shadowknight, Shaman, Warrior, Patent Lawyer

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 10
  1. Trolls can belong to various classes in the game like Shadowknight, Shaman, Warrior, and even Patent Lawyer.
  2. Patent trolling is a controversial practice in the gaming industry.
  3. Legal actions related to patents can harm creativity and competition in gaming.

MMOs Teach Us EVERYTHING

0 implied HN points • 22 Nov 10
  1. MMOs can teach us a lot of valuable skills and lessons.
  2. Online gaming communities can offer insights into real-world scenarios.
  3. There are valuable lessons to be learned from managing virtual communities.
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Take Two CEO Unaware UO, LOTRO, EQ2, Eve, AC, DAOC, Runescape, Club Penguin, Maple Story, FreeRealms, Wizard 101, Guild Wars, Aion Or CoH Exist

0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 10
  1. Take Two CEO believed only World of Warcraft and Everquest were successful MMOs in the U.S. market.
  2. Entering the MMO market in the U.S. was seen by the Take Two CEO as risky and requiring significant investment.
  3. Experience and knowledge in the MMO market were not considered necessary by Take Two, as stated by the author's personal disclosure.

The Long And Strange Tale Of Stargate Worlds Comes To A Close, Maybe

0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 10
  1. MGM ended the licensing agreement for Stargate Worlds after a legal battle.
  2. The founder of the company behind the game felt wronged and expressed frustration.
  3. There were issues aligning Stargate Worlds with the TV show storyline after its end.

WoW Lore Is Very Important

0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 10
  1. World of Warcraft lore is emphasized in the community.
  2. It is important for players to understand the lore of WoW.
  3. Lore adds depth and richness to the World of Warcraft experience.

EAology

0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 10
  1. There are rumors of mass layoffs at EA.
  2. The possibility of 25% layoffs at EA is concerning.
  3. The layoffs are expected to target unprofitable studios.

Living In The Plastic Age

0 implied HN points • 19 Oct 10
  1. The US is facing high unemployment rates and economic challenges due to factors like outsourcing and ballooning entitlement spending.
  2. There is frustration with government leadership and a need for realistic solutions to address economic issues.
  3. Political discourse has become divisive and focused on fictional issues rather than real problems, leaving voters with limited choices.

A Short Programming Note

0 implied HN points • 13 Oct 10
  1. It's important to move on from past experiences and not dwell in bitterness.
  2. Leaving a job when it's time is crucial for personal growth and well-being.
  3. Learning from past experiences and applying those lessons in new situations is valuable.

OK, It's Time To Destroy The Internet

0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 10
  1. The idea of CAPTCHAs with ad slogans is considered evil.
  2. Advertisers want messages to be remembered through CAPTCHAs.
  3. The invention of CAPTCHAs with ad slogans is disruptive to user experience.

By Popular Request

0 implied HN points • 07 Oct 10
  1. There's a picture of a cool tractor presented in the post.
  2. The post mentions that the author isn't really doing anything for AGDC except driving around random Europeans in strip malls.
  3. The caption with the tractor picture humorously says 'have a tractor'.

Final Fantasy XIV: Triumph Of The Horsebirds

0 implied HN points • 24 Sep 10
  1. North American gamers had mixed reactions to Final Fantasy XIV, noting its graphics but criticizing the English translation and gameplay issues.
  2. Japanese players noticed poor grammar and spelling mistakes in the Japanese version of the game, leading to suspicions of Chinese involvement in development.
  3. Squaresoft was accused of outsourcing parts of Final Fantasy XIV development to a Chinese firm, evident from spelling mistakes and translations in the game.

Oh, COME ON.

0 implied HN points • 22 Sep 10
  1. GOG.com faced backlash for a hoax closure and apologized for it
  2. The game industry is criticized for lack of professionalism, ethics, and maturity
  3. It is unwise to cut off access to purchases without notice, especially in a business model reliant on virtual transactions

You Can Stop, We've Got Enough

0 implied HN points • 21 Sep 10
  1. Planet Michael is an immersive virtual space themed around Michael Jackson's life and music.
  2. Players will engage in collaborative in-game activities worldwide in a massive social gaming experience.
  3. The game features a unique world with a Funk War, where players command the mighty Legions of the Rhythm Nation and the ultimate weapon, Mecha Jackson.

APB Closing Today

0 implied HN points • 16 Sep 10
  1. APB, an MMO, is closing down after only 80 days since launch.
  2. Management issues, like inefficient hiring and political turf wars, contributed to the failure of the project.
  3. A CEO's skill to create a 'Reality Distortion Field' may have hindered the company from addressing problems effectively.

Bobby Kotick Incredibly Grateful Mark Pincus Exists

0 implied HN points • 10 Sep 10
  1. Some employees criticized Zynga's business practices and work culture, mentioning a lack of concern for game quality and originality.
  2. Mark Pincus was known for valuing profit over game quality in Zynga's development.
  3. Zynga employed strategies like a non-refundable bank transfer program to encourage gaming addicts to spend more money on virtual credits.

In APB's Defense, Babies Are In Fact Magically Delicious

0 implied HN points • 04 Sep 10
  1. In the game APB, high-level players constantly defeated low-level players, creating an unfair gaming experience.
  2. Despite efforts to fix the issues, such as tweaking weaponry and matchmaking, the problem of 'baby eating' persisted.
  3. The failure of APB was attributed to the inability of designers to address the imbalance between veteran and novice players.

Lawsuits Can Be Addicting

0 implied HN points • 02 Sep 10
  1. Lawsuits can become addictive for individuals involved.
  2. Judges may enforce provisions in End User License Agreements (EULAs) that limit liability.
  3. Proving gross negligence is crucial for a substantial payout in a lawsuit.

The Client Is In The Compiler Of The Enemy

0 implied HN points • 24 Aug 10
  1. Programmers started reverse engineering Second Life client in 2006, leading to issues like content dupes.
  2. Emerald became a popular Third-Party client for Second Life, but controversies arose due to alleged black-hat associations.
  3. Emerald's misuse of user data led to its removal as an approved client by Linden Lab in 2010.

OMG NEW MMO WTF BBQ

0 implied HN points • 23 Aug 10
  1. Cryptic's approach is to focus on quality at launch with all necessary features to attract and retain players.
  2. Adding features post-launch may not necessarily boost subscriptions if they were missing at the game's release.
  3. The initial launch experience is crucial as it defines players' perception of the game, even if updates and fixes are made later.

WH40K: You Didn't Really Want To Be A Space Marine

0 implied HN points • 20 Aug 10
  1. The new Warhammer 40K MMO did not allow players to be Space Marines right away.
  2. The author strongly believes players should be able to play as Space Marines immediately in a Warhammer 40K game.
  3. The author was being funny and was parodying the frustration of not being able to play as a Space Marine right away.

APB: How To Blow $100,000,000.00

0 implied HN points • 20 Aug 10
  1. An MMO in the UK used a poor business model and failed to meet expectations.
  2. The game APB sold less than 10,000 units despite a budget of $100 million.
  3. The failure of the game led to bitter and jaded feelings in the game industry.

Nuclear Launch Detected Against WoW Private Server

0 implied HN points • 16 Aug 10
  1. Blizzard won an $88m lawsuit against a WoW private server for distributing virtual items for donations.
  2. The lawsuit sends a strong message to other private server providers about the consequences of copyright infringement.
  3. Blizzard's actions show they consider private servers a serious problem and may take legal action against others in the future.

This Just In, We're All Doomed

0 implied HN points • 11 Aug 10
  1. The global MMO market is valued at $8 billion this year with significant growth in China and Korea
  2. Blizzard Entertainment dominates the Western market while Asian companies are driving growth in Asia
  3. Competition with console video games and rising popularity of social games are impacting the growth of Western MMORPGs

"You, Sir, Are A Terrible Client"

0 implied HN points • 10 Aug 10
  1. The importance of respecting and valuing employees
  2. The impact of inexperience and low pay on turnover rates
  3. The role of management in retaining employees

Earth Eternal May Not Be That Eternal

0 implied HN points • 09 Aug 10
  1. Earth Eternal, a MMO game, faced financial struggles and had to lay off staff.
  2. The CEO announced that the game was up for sale and might shut down if not purchased.
  3. The collapse of Earth Eternal raised questions about the MMO industry in a competitive gaming market.

Law And Order: Special ERP Unit

0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 10
  1. World of Warcraft has a specialized unit to monitor sexually based roleplaying violations
  2. The elite squad is called Special ERP Unit and investigates these offenses on the Moon Guard server
  3. The story introduces the unit and teases Britney Spears as a special guest

Kotick Can't Seem To Pay Anyone, Really

0 implied HN points • 02 Aug 10
  1. Bobby Kotick lost a lawsuit for refusing to pay legal fees for a sexual harassment suit.
  2. Kotick had a "scorched earth defense" approach and made threatening statements during the dispute.
  3. Despite sending a partial payment later, Kotick still showed unethical behavior in the negotiation process.

Can Second Life Be Saved?

0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 10
  1. Second Life faces challenges with leadership changes and attempts to rebrand as Facebook-like.
  2. Linden Lab needs to focus on core business of server hosting and improve customer service.
  3. Understanding and catering to the existing user base is crucial for Second Life's success.

The Casual Gaming Market Goes Literally Insane

0 implied HN points • 28 Jul 10
  1. Kongregate bought by Gamestop due to declining in-store game purchases
  2. Playdom acquired by Disney for nearly 800 million dollars
  3. Zynga's acquisition involves Mark Pincus becoming a feudal overlord in exchange