Welcome back to What Are You Playing, as we have just finished a multi-week experiment trying out several more serious styles for our weekly column in which we now maturely discuss what we are playing this weekend. For those who missed the previous week, we had one week in which we discussed video game news, followed by a week discussing natural science news, and then a week with a purely descriptive header. This week, we were supposed to have a vote to see which one was the preferred format moving forward, but unfortunately the poll module has broken, so we will have to use an alternative format.
Everyone who liked the very serious video game news header is going to need to send an email to videogamenews AT massivelyop dot com (we need to type this out in this fashion due to a legal agreement with the At Symbol Foundation in Switzerland) with the subject line “Wombat News” (you need that to bypass the spam filter) and with your full name but all vowels replaced as follows: replace any and all As with the rest of consonants in the alphabet in sequence, any Es with the letter X one time for each time the letter shows up in your name, any Is with the reverse consonant order, any Us with W/2, and any Os with the number six.
Everyone who liked the natural science header is going to need to go to the McDonald’s in Atlanta, GA, at 2929 Peachtree Road and ask for Kathryn, then (regardless of what the server says) order a “wild double sloppy sloppy with extra BBQ sauce.” Give a spicy wink. They will probably not know what you mean, but whatever they give you, please eat it. Then let me know what they give you. I’m really curious.
Everyone who liked the descriptive header doesn’t get a vote. Like better things.
We will tally the votes and get the results to you next week. Please continue to be mature and sober in the comments, as we have finally stopped being slaves to the tyranny of nonsense.
Bonus question: What’s your favorite underrated sweet treat?
​Andrew Ross (@dengarsw): Still doing Splatoon 3, but I recently found myself kind of leading the remains of an Orna guild that used to be super organized but I am not capable of that kind of commitment. Oh, and exercise games, because of candy.
Marzipan! I dunno why some people mock it, it’s one of my favorite parts of the holidays. Shaped stuff is fine for the people who like cute stuff, but the there’s also some with pistachio, covered in chocolate, with a little booze… there’s marzipan for everyone! Even supposedly for people with nut allergies, though I’ve yet to try it (leave comments if you have though).
Brianna Royce (@nbrianna, blog): I’m hoping to get more time in Guild Wars 2 – was too busy most of this week to even finish my weeklies!
Malted milk balls! My kids got almost no Whoppers or anything like them in their hauls this year. Super underrated. Did you know the reason Wendy’s frosty tastes so good (and not just like a milkshake) is the malt? You’re going to remember this the next time you say, “Sir, this is a Wendy’s.” Put malted milk flavoring in everything!
Chris Neal (@wolfyseyes, blog): Most of my weekend is likely going to involve me going into the lab to experiment with the weapon moves in Monster Hunter Wilds’ open beta, but beyond that I’ll probably continue to dip into Wayfinder as well as some Final Fantasy XIV. Gotta get a couple more things before 7.1!
I’m going to say Swedish Fish are pretty underrated. But then I suppose that’s not a surprise considering they’re kind of understated; they have a subtle flavor, they’re not too cloyingly sweet, and they have a pleasant texture. I love ’em.
Eliot Lefebvre (@Eliot_Lefebvre, blog): Gonna finish up my FFXIV prep for the patch on November 12th (already pretty much there, just need some irregular tomes) and gonna probably play some Forza Horizon 4. That game sort of rules, apparently! People told me and I slept on it. That’s on me.
There are some really good options in here for underrated sweet treats, so let me give a nod toward dried prunes. Dried fruit in general is really good, but dried prunes tend to get slept on since prunes aren’t usually very sweet. But I love ’em.
Justin Olivetti (@Sypster, blog): I’m trying to gear up my Warlock in World of Warcraft, but I do need to make some time to test an MMO that’s currently under NDA. Crossing my fingers and hoping it’s good!
Sam Kash (@thesamkash): I’m honest to goodness going to beat Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. I’ve said it so many weeks in a row you probably think I’m full of it but I will make time and I am literally at the final boss definitely this time. I will complete it. Sadly Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is gone so I’ve got nothing to do there… I’ve finally started Throne and Liberty but very slowly.
Bonus: There’s a Persian treat called gaaz. It’s kind of like divinity. But with pistachios. It’s not super sweet, but it’s really great!
Tyler Edwards (blog): Honestly not sure what I’ll be playing right now. I have a few more days left in my WoW sub, but I’ve pretty much completed all my goals for the game until the next patch hits. I played a bit of The Secret World for Halloween and might continue with that. StarCraft 2 co-op and Heroes of the Storm are looking tempting. And I haven’t started Unknown 9: Awakening yet despite buying it at launch, so I should get around to that soon.
Bonus question: I don’t know if it’s underrated or just uncommon, but I’m working my way through a bag of mini halva bars right now, so let’s go with that.
Every Saturday, join the Massively OP community and staff for What Are You Playing, our roundup of what MMORPGs and other games we’re hoping to play this weekend (with a bonus question or two for our amusement). Tell us what you’re up to! Go off-topic! And don’t forget to have fun!
