Archive:Fanboy

2007-06-03T18:16:47Z

201.81.101.12:

'''Fanboy''' is a term used to describe an individual (usually male, though the feminine version '''fangirl''' may be used for females) who is utterly devoted to a single fannish subject, or to a single point of view within that subject, often to the point where it is considered an [[obsession]]. ''Fanboys'' remain loyal to their particular obsession, disregarding any factors that differ from their point of view. Fanboys are also typically aggressive and hateful towards the opposing brand or competition of their obsession regardless of its merits or achievements.

== Background ==
Fanboys are attributed with a sycophantic devotion to the creators and principles behind a work with which they are currently enthralled, but will quickly move their attention elsewhere once something better or just newer comes along. Fanboys are noted for a very emotional attachment to their chosen subject, often taking negative remarks about it as a personal attack. They will readily engage in debates, but will fall back on emotional responses. For example, a "fanboy" may go out of their way to point out negative and often untrue statements about their obsession's rivals; this is commonly known as [[FUD]].

As electronic entertainment gained popularity, the term became increasingly applied to [[video game]]rs and television addicts. As a result, a subculture emerged which readily labeled itself as fanboys. Within this group, more effort is taken to fit in with a perceived standard, resulting in a more outgoing attitude, even among those with insecurities. This outgoing stance is often felt to be abrasive by those not involved in the culture as deeply.

More recently, especially in the [[video game industry]], fans of a particular video game console manufacturer have begun exhibiting slavish devotion to their brand of choice. Conversely they hold an unreasonable amount of animosity towards the other brands which they consider to be competition. They are extremely rude to fans of the other companies or even people who don’t exhibit complete and utter devotion to the object of their fanaticism. These people seek out every opportunity to annoy others whose opinions differ from theirs. This trend has caused the term “fanboy” to acquire an increasingly negative connotation.

==History of fanboys and the term==
The term originated in [[comic book]] circles, to describe someone who immersed himself in the fictional worlds of comics and the culture of comics fandom. The term is often used in a derogatory manner by other less obsessed fans. In the songs of the fannish [[parody]] [[musician]] [[Luke Ski]], many characters proudly consider themselves ''fanboys''. The term is most commonly associated with adolescent and teen males but can be applicable to any age or sex. Common subjects of reverence by fanboys are [[TV show]]s, [[film|movie]]s, [[music]], [[anime]], [[comic books]], [[car]]s, [[video game console]]s, [[video games]], [[operating system]]s, [[MMORPG]]s, [[Computer Hardware|hardware]] and [[software]] companies.

Popular depictions of Fanboy stereotypes include the [[Comic Book Guy]] on ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and columnist [[Larry Groznic]] from the satirical newspaper ''[[The Onion]]''.

The earliest published uses of the word "fanboy" have been dated to 1982. One reference is to the cover of the "Official Underground and Newave Comix Price Guide". On this cover page are sketched overweight, overzealous comic book collectors wearing T-shirts that state "Fanboys of America," and are describing the extreme measures they would go to, including moving to San Francisco, to preserve their comics. Also published in 1982, a comic strip appeared in Jim Engel and Chuck Fiala's "Fandom Confidential" comic. In the strip, Jim and Chuck met comic artist/writer [[John Byrne]] and collapsed into "mindless paroxysms of adoration." The John Byrne character responded that they were "a couple of fanboys in bondage" which was a play on words referring to a [[List of Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes#8. Archaeology Today|Monty Python skit]] in which an Elizabethan era character reads what she claims to be "'Gayboys in Bondage' by William Shakespeare".[http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=7&T1=Miscellaneous+Questions#154] Another early use is in a smart-alec editorial reply by "[[Ambush Bug]]" to a letter in his comic in [[1985]].

==Subjects of obsession==
Some current examples of brands and products which have fanboy supporters:
*The competing video game consoles [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii]] and [[Playstation 3]].
*The competing computer hardware and software produced by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Microsoft]], and [[Linux|GNU/Linux]]. (See also [[Operating system advocacy]]).
*The internet [[web browser]]s [[Mozilla Firefox|Firefox]], [[Internet Explorer]] and [[Opera (internet suite)|Opera]].
*The various technology companies: [[Google]], [[Sony]], [[Apple]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]].
*The [[graphics processing unit]]s produced by [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] and [[NVIDIA]].
*The [[computer]] [[microprocessor]] companies [[Advanced Micro Devices|AMD]] and [[Intel Corporation|Intel]].
*The competing [[DVD]] successor formats [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] and [[HD DVD]].
*The competing handheld video game consoles the [[Nintendo DS]] and the [[PlayStation Portable]].
*The various [[MP3]] players, notably the [[iPod]] and the [[Zune]].
*The various [[automobile]] manufacturers, such as [[General Motors]] and [[Ford]].
*The long running [[science-fiction]] franchises [[Doctor Who]], [[Star Trek]], [[Star Wars]], [[The Matrix]], [[Godzilla]] and [[Babylon 5]].
*The competing tabletop role play game systems [[D&D]] (and other [[D20 system]] spinoffs), [[World of Darkness]], and [[GURPS]].
*The Japanese style of animation and comics, also known as [[Anime]] and [[Manga]], respectively.
*The comic book brands [[DC Comics]] and [[Marvel Comics]].
*The wrestling companies [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWE]], [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|TNA]], [[Wrestling Society X|WSX]] and [[Ring of Honor|ROH]].
*The competing games [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]] and [[Final Fantasy VII]](for [[Nintendo 64]] and [[Playstation]], respectively).
*Sports teams that have large, if not bandwagon, fanbases ([[New York Yankees]], [[Boston Red Sox]], [[Chicago Cubs]], etc.)

==Media==
===Comic Book===
*[[Sergio Aragonés]]' ''Fanboy''

===Television===
*''[[The Simpsons]]'''s [[Comic Book Guy]] refers to himself as a fanboy.
*''[[Freakazoid!|Freakazoid]]'''s [[freakazoid!#Other characters|Fan Boy]]

===Radio/Podcasts===
*[[Fanboy Radio]] - [http://fanboyradio.com]
*Drooling FanBoy - [http://droolingfanboy.com]
*ifanboy - [http://www.ifanboy.com]
*[[The Fanboy Smackdown Podcast]] - [http://www.fanboysmackdown.com]
*[[The Opie and Anthony Show]] - [http://www.opieandanthony.com]

===Webcomics===
*Fanboy Almanac (webcomic) - [http://fanboyalmanac.com Fanboy Almanac]
*[http://www.ngeb.net/fanboys Fanboys web comic]
*[http://www.fogclub.net F.O.G.Club web comic]
*[http://www.fanboysonline.com Fanboys!! Beyond Geekdom!!! (webcomic)]
*[http://www.fanboys-online.com Fanboys-Online]

==See also==
* [[Addiction]]
* [[Cyberstalking]]
* [[Editor war]]
* [[Anorak (slang)|Anorak]]
* [[Astroturfing]]
* [[Otaku]]

== External links ==
* [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fanboy Urban dictionary: fanboy]
* [http://www.netjak.com/review.php/1013 Dissecting the Fanboy Mind] - A discussion of the fanboy behavior in regards to video games.
* [http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=6463 The trial of the Fanboy] - A criticism of the fanboy concept and overusage of the term.

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Anime and manga terminology]]

[[de:Fanboy]]

Instance dungeon

2007-03-28T20:38:51Z

201.81.18.85:

In [[MMORPG]]s, an '''instance dungeon''' is a special area, typically a [[dungeon (games)|dungeon]], that generates a new copy, or instance, of the dungeon map for each group that enters the area. This saves server work and ensures that there will never be competition ([[kill stealing]], [[spawn camping]]) over resources such as [[mob (computer gaming)|mobs]] within the instance and that [[player character]]s experience minimum [[lag]].

This also preserves the gaming experience, since some gaming scenarios do not work if the player is continually surrounded by other players, as in a multiplayer setting. Instance dungeons may contain stronger than usual mobs and rare, sought-after equipment. They also may include level restrictions and/or restrict the number of players allowed in each instance to balance gameplay.

Instances were first proposed by [[Richard Garriott]] in the late 1990's as a way to solve a set of related problems which had become obvious in [[Ultima Online]]. The problem is simple to state: everyone wants to be "The Hero" and slay "The Monster", rescue "The Princess" and obtain "The Magic Sword". When there are 2,000 and more players all playing the same game, clearly not everyone can be the hero. The problem of everyone wanting to kill the same monster and gain the best treasure was terribly obvious in the game [[EverQuest]]. The creation of instances largely solves this set of problems. There are few examples of boss camping and kill stealing in [[World of Warcraft]] - because a copy of the dungeon (instance) is always created on demand for you or your party.

Games that have been known to use instancing include:
*''[[Anarchy Online]]''
*''[[City of Heroes]]''/''[[City of Villains]]''
*''[[Dark Age of Camelot]]''
*''[[EverQuest]]'' (instances added in 2003)
*''[[EverQuest 2]]''
*''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' (instances added with the Treasures of Aht Urghan expansion)
*''[[Guild Wars]]''
*''[[Maple Story]]''
*''[[The Realm Online]]''
*''[[World of Warcraft]]''; see [[Instance (World of Warcraft)]]

Guild Wars uses instancing for every area where monsters must be fought.

One game known for not using instance dungeons is ''[[EVE Online]]''. Because of the vast amount of space available in the EVE universe, missions for players are created in real space, which any other player could in theory travel to. This allows multiple players to perform the same mission at the same time (in the same manner as an instanced dungeon) but also allows other players to view or participate in the mission, if they discover the location, or if invited to assist by the player who was initially given the mission.

''[[Vanguard: Saga of Heroes]]'' is another game that does not use instance dungeons. However, it is envisioned that, through the Advanced Encounter System (AES), certain "boss" NPCs can be triggered when a group enters an area; this NPC would then be "tagged" to that group, meaning no other players could attack or interact with it. AES was not implemented in the commercial release of ''V:SoH'', but Sigil programmers are reportedly working on it and are planning to release it in a future patch.

Several games use instancing to scale the [[mob (computer gaming)|mobs]] to the players' levels, and/or the number of players present.

[[Category:Video game gameplay]]
[[Category:Massively multiplayer online role-playing games]]
[[Category:Competitive video gaming]]

{{rpg-videogame-stub}}

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Archive:Fanboy

Instance dungeon