Beware the VORG
Beware the VORG
Report AbuseFrom Sailgroove.org:
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Are you a fan of the Volvo Ocean Race? Do you check the Sailgroove VOR coverage daily to see those speed machines blaze across the seas? Do you read Ken Read's Blog?
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Whether or not you are--in fact, whether or not you are even a sailor--you are sure to love the Volvo Ocean Race Game, and perhaps maybe a little too much. The game is simple: you make a boat (mine's called Sailgroove dot org) and pick the colors you want. Then you start in the middle of the leg with 20% of the fleet behind you (the fleet is over 50,000 players worldwide!) The gameboard is a giant chart of the world with the wind represented by little arrows. All you have to do is choose your direction and what sails to use. Then, check in every so often to make sure you're on the right course. The race runs in real time, so each leg can take weeks.
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Sounds simple enough right? Maybe even a little boring. But try it. You'll be hooked. Suddenly your position is all that matters. You're getting up in the middle of the night because you need to tack on the shift. You're faking bathroom breaks at meetings because you need to make sure you're using the light air spinnaker. Be warned: this game can take over your life. The best gimmick in the game is the add-ons. For a minimal fee (about 9 bucks) you can get point of sail controller, so you're always at the optimal angle to the wind. That's just for one leg. For a measly $34 you can get Auto helm, Auto Sails, Point of Sail Controller, 5 Repair Kits and Widget Data Feed for all 10 legs! What a bargain!
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You laugh, but again I must warn you. I have seen strong men crumble and give in to the temptation when they realize that not sleeping for 26 days just isn't a viable option. I have not given in, but that is because I am 20661st place and not even a jet engine could get me caught up, but what about leg 2 when I'm in the top group and I see the autohelmers start to pull away? Will I be able to resist? Will you?
