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Pwned
Reid is having a rought week. He's not sleeping well. He's just been saddled with an impossible project at work. And his girlfriend has disconnected her phone and left him for Fartherall Online.
When Reid dives into the massively multiplayer pwn-or-be-powned world of Fartherall Online, he's only got one quest in mind: to find and win back the love of his life.
After all, it's just a game - how hard can it be?
When Reid dives into the massively multiplayer pwn-or-be-powned world of Fartherall Online, he's only got one quest in mind: to find and win back the love of his life.
After all, it's just a game - how hard can it be?
235 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 4, 2021
I'm a big fan of Matt Vancil's The Gamers movies. In fact, Gamers: Dorkness Rising is probably in my top 10 all time favorite movies. I was super excited to see that there was a Gamers novel, but - alas, the Gamers themselves appear only in the story in a walk-on cameo, except for Lodge, who has a few important scenes. The story is about a friend of theirs, Reid, who games with them on occasion. Ried's relationship with his girlfriend has gone sour, because she's been drawn into the online RPG (Fartherall Online, a parody of World of Warcraft and similar games). When she leaves him with no forwarding address, he decides to find her inside the game instead. But it's easier said than done, when you've got absolutely no idea how to play.
The story is funny, sweet and with Vancil's characteristic humor. Like The Gamers, it goes in and out of the "real world" and the "game world", making it clear that to the characters, this world is real. The story goes at a really good pace, and Reid is actually a nice guy to follow, even though he can be forehead-smacking stupid sometimes. I read the book very fast, and enjoyed it. I sort of wish that Vancil had written an actual Gamers novel, flehshing out some of the already established characters, but hopefully he can do that at a later date.
I will highly recommend this book if you like RPG's, online games or just nerd humor in general.
The story is funny, sweet and with Vancil's characteristic humor. Like The Gamers, it goes in and out of the "real world" and the "game world", making it clear that to the characters, this world is real. The story goes at a really good pace, and Reid is actually a nice guy to follow, even though he can be forehead-smacking stupid sometimes. I read the book very fast, and enjoyed it. I sort of wish that Vancil had written an actual Gamers novel, flehshing out some of the already established characters, but hopefully he can do that at a later date.
I will highly recommend this book if you like RPG's, online games or just nerd humor in general.
August 30, 2018
This is a really gripping book, The adventures are epic video game level and the characters are incredibly human. I love it, I found it because Matt vancil created two of my favorite shows JouneyQuest and The Gamers. I was ecstatic, but not surprised, to discover that his stories are just as amazing without actors to translate them. Seriously, I'm writing this at work and I'm glad it's a slow day because I was up until 3:30 a.m. unable to put it down.
Reid is getting ready to propose to Astrid, his stunning girlfriend. But she will barely even look up from her game, Fartherall Online, and doesn't even remember their anniversary. When Reid gets very drunk and does something stupid to try and get her attention, which causes her Guild to lose a raid they have been planning And working on all month. When he wakes up again the next morning she's just gone. He does the only thing he can think of. He makes an account in Fartherall Online to try to find her. In the game his name is Noob, and he sure lives up to it. He makes friends and enemies and an admin promises to find Astrid's info for him if he can complete an impossible Quest. So he gets to work...
Reid is getting ready to propose to Astrid, his stunning girlfriend. But she will barely even look up from her game, Fartherall Online, and doesn't even remember their anniversary. When Reid gets very drunk and does something stupid to try and get her attention, which causes her Guild to lose a raid they have been planning And working on all month. When he wakes up again the next morning she's just gone. He does the only thing he can think of. He makes an account in Fartherall Online to try to find her. In the game his name is Noob, and he sure lives up to it. He makes friends and enemies and an admin promises to find Astrid's info for him if he can complete an impossible Quest. So he gets to work...
December 19, 2014
A great read, and just as long as it should be. Follows up on the familiar ingame/out of game viewpoints we know and love from the The Gamers movies, only this time in an online setting. Some of the characters from the movies make an appearance, though the main characters are fresh ones.
Apart from some statistically rather improbable events (that are mostly pointed out as such), well written, once I got into it it kept the pages turning (or, in this case the scrollbar scrolling, as I got the ePub version from the Kickstarter).
I'm not sure how people with no background in MMOs or at least some tabletop gaming would react, but for me it's a solid 4 stars.
Apart from some statistically rather improbable events (that are mostly pointed out as such), well written, once I got into it it kept the pages turning (or, in this case the scrollbar scrolling, as I got the ePub version from the Kickstarter).
I'm not sure how people with no background in MMOs or at least some tabletop gaming would react, but for me it's a solid 4 stars.
July 23, 2017
Plot: Just as the blurb says the main character of the story gets dumped by his girlfriend and decides to win her back by playing a video game.
Style: First person perspective, needs more description but overall it didn't make me want to exorcise my android. The problem is that it's not tight enough, The game grinding made me skip page after page in order for me to get to the story. But that is just how MMO's are.
Characters: Overall I could identify with many of the characters in this book.
Style: First person perspective, needs more description but overall it didn't make me want to exorcise my android. The problem is that it's not tight enough, The game grinding made me skip page after page in order for me to get to the story. But that is just how MMO's are.
Characters: Overall I could identify with many of the characters in this book.
September 23, 2020
A rather unorthodox take on the whole playing an MMO genre. I liked it a lot especially since you just know the author played extensively himself.
December 12, 2014
When people talk about online games, such as World of Warcraft, they talk about how absorbed people become in these fictional worlds. Pwned was every bit as enthralling a read as the very games it is inspired by. I read it in a single day and it was almost physically painful to put the book down in the midst of its climax because my lunch hour was over.
I was already familiar with Vancil's work through the Gamers movies and the webseries JourneyQuest - works which speak to the niche crowd of people who play and understand games - board, card, tabletop RPG (such as Dungeons & Dragons), video and online. And while this may be the crowd Pwned caters to, it can also serve as a doorway into this realm and an understanding of it. Through the lens of Reid, someone who knows very little about MMORPGs (massive multiplayer online role-playing games), the reader can gain enough of an understanding to follow the story through the world of Fartherall Online.
I do not believe a nongamer will find the book as engrossing as a gamer would, but I think they can still appreciate Vancil's wit and ability.
As for me, I am proud to have backed the Kickstarter campaign that helped publish this book and look forward to enjoying the story many times in the future. An excellent addition to the world of the Gamers as well as my own personal library.
I was already familiar with Vancil's work through the Gamers movies and the webseries JourneyQuest - works which speak to the niche crowd of people who play and understand games - board, card, tabletop RPG (such as Dungeons & Dragons), video and online. And while this may be the crowd Pwned caters to, it can also serve as a doorway into this realm and an understanding of it. Through the lens of Reid, someone who knows very little about MMORPGs (massive multiplayer online role-playing games), the reader can gain enough of an understanding to follow the story through the world of Fartherall Online.
I do not believe a nongamer will find the book as engrossing as a gamer would, but I think they can still appreciate Vancil's wit and ability.
As for me, I am proud to have backed the Kickstarter campaign that helped publish this book and look forward to enjoying the story many times in the future. An excellent addition to the world of the Gamers as well as my own personal library.
January 10, 2015
I love it when an author knows what they're writing about this well. It just felt very authentic in trying to emulate MMORPGs and, to a certain extent, their players. I'm looking forward to reading more, if Vancil is willing to continue the story.
March 15, 2015
If you've ever played any type of online game, you'll be right at home with Pwned. From the off, the story sucks you in, as will the in game depictions. My only complaint, is that the story ended. Fingers crossed for further adventures. One of the most enjoyable novels I've read in a long while.
March 19, 2015
I probably shouldn't give it a 5-star rating because I generally reserve those for books that I place in my top ten of all time. But since it was pretty much exactly what I expected and wanted from a Gamers book--I give it 5 stars. A great way to tide over Gamers/Journey Quest fans between movies.
February 8, 2018
An sich nicht schlecht aber mich stört ein wenig, dass es sich um ein normales RPG handelt, wo die handlungen im Spiel aber beschrieben werden als ob es sich um vr handelt um dann im nächsten satz wieder vorm PC zu landen...
September 20, 2015
The Gamers, only in book form and for MMPORGS. Boy loses girl to RPG, boy joins RPG to win her back, complications ensue. Nothing groundbreaking, but sweet, and goes out of its way to side step some of the potential gender issues.
July 18, 2018
The way I know how much I love a book is by how hard of a time I have putting it down. This book is awesome! I could see it in film in my head and hear the characters speak. It is a really well written book and I hope to read more from Matt Vancil in the future!
September 5, 2023
Cute book, set in a MMORPG: something that The Gamers haven’t attempted before (though “Natural 1” gets close to that). Anyway, I finished the book in 24 hours and enjoyed it. It’s not as funny as Matt Vancil’s movies, though.
January 12, 2015
Wow such a great read. not saying that because I backed the kickstarter. anyone who has played a mmo will understand what is going on in this book and bring back feelings some good some not so good.
January 18, 2015
It's been quite a while since I picked up a book I read in a single sitting. Matt just captured my attention and held it the entire time.
February 16, 2015
A fun story and a must read for fans of roleplaying games and MMOs.
October 19, 2018
Very funny.
April 10, 2015
I absolutely loved this book and look forward to seeing more from the author, hopefully in the same universe
December 28, 2015
if you played an MMO or dated someone playing you know lol fun read
May 11, 2016
Very good book. I know nothing about the MMO gaming world but this novel provides a good overview in fictionalized form. Engaging storyline and characters. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews