Gaming • Cal
State Long Beach students play computer
video games across from KBeach on the first
floor of the University Student Union.
Lauren Williams / Online Forty-Niner
Game players power up
with power leveling services
By Leiloni De Gruy
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Since the development of Atari in the ’70s, hard core video game players
have spent countless hours playing video games in an attempt to reach the most
difficult and talked about levels. Unfortunately, some never attain their desired
levels due to lack of skill or time. In today’s era of technology, players
now have an alternative through a new approach called power leveling.
Power leveling is a process in which a team of veteran gamers catapult players
to challenging stages of a game. Along the way, characters, skills, statistics,
prizes and quests are upgraded.
“ Through this process, online players can enjoy the perks of a higher
level character without having to work through months and months of repetitive
killing to obtain a certain level,” states PGMx.com, one of the Web sites
to offer the power leveling service.
Services run anywhere from $30-$3,000, rising with each level, and terms last
between one and 60 days.
“ People at arcades spend 50 cents to a dollar for each game and at the
end of the day they are out of $30-$40,” said Jordyn Taylor, a public relations
major. “Why not use that money to play in the comfort of your own home.
Not only that, you can play for an entire day or days.”
Instead of spending months on a game, players working for the power leveling
companies get other players to any level they wish in as little as a week.
“ We’re playing the game like anyone else, except we get it done
in a shorter amount of time,” said Rob Bartlett, an emergency service representative
for PGMx.com. “Not only do we increase trade skills and quest, but we get
character rewards for our customers with each level.”
PGMx.com and gamepal.com provide power leveling for games like “World
of Warcraft,” “Final Fantasy XI,” “Everquest,” “The
Matrix Online,” “Dungeons and Dragons,” “Lineage,” and “Star
Wars Galaxies.”
These sites make up for what the arcade cannot provide.
“ Not only are we fighting to offer the best prices across the boards,
we are basically the Walmart of our industry. We offer everything,” said
AJ Robey, president and CEO of gamepal.com.
New players that are not familiar with their chosen game might be disappointed
with their inability to adapt to the new setting and may therefore be unsatisfied
with the service provided. Those who want to maximize their skill would not
be a match for power leveling either; the sites bypass the content needed to
be an experienced player.
“ Power leveling seems to have its advantages and disadvantages. Through one-on-one
or group competition, players not only get tips on how to be more
experienced but they find people who have their same interests,” Ramirez
said. “The downside can be the price and the fact that you still may not
be experienced enough with the level you have chosen.”
“ I couldn’t see myself paying someone for that type of service,” said
Rodrigo Ramirez, an illustration major. “I would rather earn my way to
the level I desire to reach, this way I can be proud that I did it myself.”
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