Continuing from Monday, Seal player Chin has another detailed question to spring upon our GMs.  Such an insightful question, are you studying to be a reporter, Chin?  I think you’ll make a great one!

Chin: Why did you want to become a GM?  Please state any reasons at all; maybe you feel proud, maybe you get paid a lot by playing games, maybe Seal Online is your all time favorite, etc etc.

Pinn: I figure someone has to have a job this amazing. Why not me?

Gaius: I love video games, especially MMOGs. So I decided to combine my passion with my job!

Raikiri: I love being a part of the game industry and I love helping others.

Golanu: I enjoy being a GM because it is a great industry to be in (and the bragging rights to my friends owns!).  I wanted to work in the gaming industry since I was a kid, addicted to Nintendo. Not to mention that Seal Online is the best game of all time. XD

Dimode: I have loved video games since I was able to hold an NES controller. Working in this industry provides me with the money I need to live while constantly meeting new people and being around something I love. Being a part of the Seal Online team has been amazing so far, not only because of the great co-workers, but the awesome community here.

Qsneazy: Being part of the online gaming craze is fun and always exciting. To feel part of change to thousands of people (even if only in the virtual world) is a blessing.

Hoppy Monday, my furless friends!  Continuing with our Q&A’s, Today we hear from Seal player Chin, who has some very detailed questions on what it takes to be a GM for Seal Online.  Lengthy questions spawn lengthy answers, so Chin’s questions will be answered in 3 installments.  Here’s part 1!

Chin: How did you become a GM? Please describe in as much detail as possible such as when you noticed the recruitment advertisement, where and how the interview took place (if there was any), etc.

Pinn:

1. Send in your application.
2. Interview 
3. ??? 
4. PROFIT!

Gaius: I found this special warp while playing Seal Online that said, “To GM Land”. It crashed my game and when I logged back in I was a GM!

Raikiri: Steps to becoming a GM:

1. Wake up, shower, put on clothes and brush teeth.
2. Want to be in the gaming industry to help people.
3. Log on to various game industry sites and look for a GM position.
4. Apply, send resume.
5. Go to interview (dress appropriately, no t-shirt or jeans).
6. Be friendly and enthusiastic.
7. Pray…
8. Become a GM!

Golanu: I began as a GM for another MMO, which I found off pure luck. I noticed on their website that they were hiring, applied, and I was surprised to get hired. From there, I was able to gain necessary experience until I found out from a friend that YNK was hiring. So I jumped ship and became Golanu, who you all know and love (hopefully).

Dimode: I landed my first job as a Game Master 3 years ago. I was recommended to the position after talking with various people I met through working at video game stores and participating in video game tournaments. I simply applied, showed off my game knowledge, then got the job. Recommendations go a long way in this industry, but in the end it really comes down to the effort you put into finding companies that need help, and then showing them your best gaming/customer service skills.

Our questions today come from one of our players named Kahau.  He’s not beating around the bush and gets right to the questions that many of you were wondering…  

Kahau: What does a GM do?

Gaius: GMs are usually helping the good players in game! When GMs aren’t helping the good ones, they are banning the bad ones! >:]

Raikiri: A GM will go in game talk to players and run events.  When not in game they are on the forums reading posts and they also read email inquiries.  After they have read the posts of emails they will respond to them.

Golanu: GMs monitor in game activity, host events, investigate problems in game (such as bugs, hackers, etc.), moderate forums, and I like to shoot fireworks off in the cities. =)

Dimode: Well, there are everyday duties we need to attend to and special duties that each GM takes on. Of course we all play the game, but we also constantly watch the forums, check the email inquiries, answer support emails, investigate hackers, test bugs, write bug reports, find workarounds for bugs until they get fixed, write and set up events, go in game and answer questions, investigate harassment issues, investigate economy issues, investigate billing issues, and work on policies. Quite often we will be assigned to a project and end up appearing to be “missing in action” for a while, but really we are just working behind the scenes.

Qsneazy: Outside of work – poker, run, read, play video games!!!

Kahau: Are GMs friendly?

Pinn: You better believe it.

Gaius: All GMs are friendly. But the nicest GM is Gaius!

Raikiri: GMs are very friendly.

Golanu: Yes, feel free to whisper us anytime in game.

Dimode: Hah, well I really enjoy working with everyone on the team. It’s a great group and we all work really hard. As far as being nice? That is for you to decide, but I will say that outside of work…. Golanu is an undefeated cage fighter and I am pretty sure Gaius tried to hit me with his car once.

Our questions today come from a player named Omgricecakes, which is now my favorite player name of all time!  I can’t even say it without rabbit-chuckling.  Anyway, Omgricecakes… ha ha ha hee hee hee!  See?  Anyway, “today’s player” asks:

Omgricecakes: Can any of the GMs play DDR (Dance Dance Revolution)?

Pinn: Yep, I used to play quite some time ago. My favorite song was Cowgirl, by the way.

Raikiri: I’ve played it but only on Normal and Standard.  In that game I am indeed not a Game Master.

Golanu: I CAN, but a lot of toes will be stepped on in the process.

Dimode: Heck yeah! ^^   I stopped after 4th Mix, but I’ll never forget the countless hours at the arcade playing DDR. My favorite song to dance to was .59 by DJ Taka, but when I wanted to show off I would play Drop Out on Hidden/Shuffle/Flat =)

Qsneazy: I suck at it.

Omgricecakes: Does Gaius ever pick his nose?

Gaius: Yes, on occasion. Sometimes I flick my boogers at other GMs when they aren’t looking!

Lokisav: I’ve seen it, I’ll try to get video of it next time.

Omgricecakes: Will I get my questions posted? :3

Gaius: Yes, here’s your proof! =P

Raikiri: Maybe?

Golanu: NO!

Dimode: Only this one and not the others! -_-  

Qsneazy: No!! jk who knows.

Today we have a couple questions from gamer J4ke.  Is it just me or does J4ke sound a little cranky?!

J4ke: What the hell is Pinn? A soccer-playing chicken?

Pinn: I used to be a mascot on the Korean Soccer Team until I rushed the field trying to score a goal. It turns out that’s “against the rules” in Korean soccer. Long story short, I ended up in America, missing a kidney, and still wearing my mascot uniform. I then wandered into a YNK office building and they haven’t let me leave since.

J4ke: What class is [Game Master]?? Hmmm, some sorta god-like class that I want to be?

Raikiri: The Game Master class can only be obtained through hard work and lots of hours of game playing/testing.  Once you reach the appropriate level you will know automatically that you are indeed a “Game Master.” (Some restrictions may apply.  Such as actually working for a game company and given the position of Game Master.)

J4ke: Can I have your job? PLEASE!!

Pinn: Are you trying to steal my job? THIEF! THIEF!

Raikiri: Sure, if you can pass the grueling quests and travel to the YNK Hideout to get the ultimate rank of Game Master.

Golanu: The only way to become a GM is to overtake one and steal their powers. Challenges can be arranged in the Coliseum and settled in the history books.

Dimode: Take Pinn’s, not mine! ><

Qsneazy: Come and try to take it!!!

Today we have a couple questions from gamer Stubbly (that’s just fun to say, isn’t it?) for our GM’s, including one about my favorite all-time tasty treat:

Stubbly:  What does a rascal rabbit cookie do?

Lokisav:  They are cookies shaped like rascal rabbits.  I heard that they are very crispy and delicious.

Stubbly:  Is there anyway to get ‘Pet Appraiser’s Mistake’ without Seal Cash?

Golanu:  At this time, there is no way to acquire this item in-game without using the Item Mall.

Tune in tomorrow, Seal Fans, when J4ke puts Pinn on the spot!

Today we get some questions from gamer Dutchlady for our own GM Raikiri:

Q: what is the best time to catch Raikiri online?  

Raikiri: I am usually on at around 2-3 pm PST.

Q: what is Raikiri’s favorite set of equips?

Raikiri: I like the Aeon Set the best since it looks cool and it’s a warrior set.  My favorite class is the warrior.

Q: where does Raikiri like to go in seal online ^_^?

Raikiri: I like hanging out in Adel Monastery whenever I am bored =D

Next time, questions from Stubbly!

Hello my furless friends!  Well I just got a big ol’ stack of answers from the GM’s.  Answers to what, you ask?  Why, answers to your questions, of course!  You were so great in asking all sorts of interesting, insightful, and sometimes funny questions during the”Ask a GM!” event, and we wanted to share them with the entire community.  There were too many great ones to include all in one post, so I’m going to break ‘em down and include a few at a time, for the next couple weeks.  They enjoyed your questions and I think you’ll enjoy their responses.  Some are detailed, some are funny, some are both…and you may find a few previously unannounced hints in there, too!

Here are today’s questions, they come from ZaxxonGalaxion:

Q: How many GM’s are there in total?

Lokisav: There are 6 visible GM’s that you have seen and unknown others that you haven’t seen yet.

Q: Do you GMs work from an office building (or something like that) or from home?

Qsneazy: We work out of a cave.

Q: Which quest do you think is the hardest?

Raikiri: The hardest quest(s) I think in game would have to pertain to the Heroes Quest, where you collect the signatures from all of the heroes.

For all those waiting for PayPal to sign on before buying that sweet little scroll or feeding bag, the time has come.  PayPal is now an option for buying items to trick you out.  Everything in the item mall is now available for a simple click using this very popular and safe payment system.  And you don’t even need a PayPal account to make a purchase!  But if you do have one, it will be that much quicker.  Welcome, PayPal!

Holy Cow Banderas, the official Seal Online newsletter just hit the streets!  Every Seal Online player is on the mailing list, so check your emailbox today and check it out.  And here’s a bonus that I’m offering only to my blog readers… you can help us give it a name!  Right now it’s just called, “The Official Seal Online Newsletter”.  Pretty boring, right?  Well, check out the poll below.  You’ll see choices to choose from for the official title beginning with the next issue (February).  Do your Shiltzian civic duty and rock the vote right away!  Oh, and if there’s anything else you’d like to see in your monthly newsletter, drop us a line at info@ynkinteractive.com to let us know.  This newsletter is for you, afterall!

Time to get back to finding 100 boxes for that crying little girl in Elim.  See you next time!

- R.R.

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