There are numerous guilds out there with celebrity members. Whether you’d ever know who they were is another question. (I’d like to apply for Henry Cavill’s.) But they don’t have what Ministry of Defense has: JOSH.

Josh is everybody’s favourite developer at Blizzard, whether they know it or not. The upcoming Legion Remix (such an awesome xpac) is his project. And when anything has anything bad or buggy happen in game, we all know who’s name to scream into the void: JOSH. He never answers.

Josh attended a course on neuroscience, and asked himself, “why is it so hard to remember this stuff vs zelda maps from 10 years ago?” Well, Josh, that’s probably because only one of those things is interesting. (I could never get into Zelda.) He decided to get his Ph.D. in human/computer interactionand did some research in how games make you reflect on your own life, change your opinions, educate you, and contribute to science. Josh likes working on video games right now because it provides such a great escape from reality (which is going so well right now).

he still has only 50% of the PhD’s Urostek has

Josh prefers to make stuff that is “fun for people to escape to”. Josh likes to be a power for good. For now. In addition to the upcoming Legion Remix, he also worked on 2024’s Love is in the Air update, and on part of the 20th anniversary celebrations.

As a developer, Josh really enjoys problem solving day to day – he likes the flexibility he’s granted and he likes to approach development problems from an intellectual/creative angle. When asked what his number #1 change to WoW would be, if he could add one with no questions asked and no limitations, Josh wanted to see a badge on every quest that he does so he can tell which quests are important to him (ie. quests that garner a mount, deep lore, humour, or a pet). When asked what he would instantly nix from the game, he felt that all of the content that didn’t “age well” (due to sexism, etc.).

Josh’s favourite NPC that was not of his own creation is Chive in Ringing Deeps that has a side quest chain to find and dig up items (Preserve and Pretend). At the end of the quest chain, he holds it up “Legend of Zelda” style (whatever that is). Along with his previously noted working on Love is in the Air, Legion Remix, and 20th Anniversary, Josh also helped with Mists of Pandaria remix, in particularly the bronze orbs that floated around – like orbs for the dreamsurge.

When Josh is feeling disloyal and ungrateful to his fans (and no doubt employer), his favourite game is “Oxygen Not Included”. He enjoys base builders and survival games. At the time of this interview (no one knows when this was, certainly not me), he was also playing Against the Storm. Josh also has hobbies outside game, which include… juggling. With 5 balls. Because 2 isn’t enough, I guess. Anyway, the best person in the world can apparently juggle 7, so that sounds pretty good. B+, Josh.

Hailing from New York, Josh lived in New Jersey for quite some time. When asked what the best thing was about where he lives, he said, “There is nothing good about NJ.” Fair enough. However, NY pizza is apparently delicious. His favourite book is the Never-ending Story (kind of like WoW is turning out to be). His favourite TV show is The Good Place. Josh’s favourite imaginary character (from any source) is Dirk Gently of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. His favourite foods for gaming are coffee and pretzels; his favourite non-gaming food is tacos.

Signed,
Lady Wenstledown

ps. if you get this reference we are now best friends.

Sorry for the delay, folks! The Wenhouse has been a little crazy of late, and I fell behind. This month I interviewed xboondocksaintx, one of our resident PvPers.

xboondocksaintx’s handle comes from the movies of the same name. He also occasionally goes by ‘Dark,’ which is from a character he formerly used and that nickname has stuck over time. I get called dark all the time, too–so weird, right?! He’s been playing WoW since 2006, but he also enjoyed the Matrix game of the mid-aughts. He stopped playing for 10 years but after some friends picked up WoW again during COVID, he started right back up again and has been going strong since.

Dark has a 12 year old son, and his hobbies largely consist of whatever his kid is into at any given moment. Enjoys sporting, which I assume includes when you throw the puck into the net (I think it’s called basketball, even though there isn’t a basket, what even is that). He has 3 ferrets, and one of them spent the majority of our interview in his face. I always ask people where they’re from and what their location is known for, and Dark said he’s from DC, which is known for traffic. I feel that. There is a large concentration of agents (FBI/CIA) near him, but he insists it isn’t because of him. I don’t know about that one, but we’ll pretend we believe him. (ps. if Mulder and Scully show up at my house I will be so excited.)

PvP is Dark’s favourite activity, especially rated battles with guildies. He’s been doing this since the end of BFA. Right now, he’s enjoying classic and the whole levelling experience. I loved classic, too… 20 years ago. I am not convinced that present-day classic-ers are not masochists. I’ve been enduring flashbacks to hide of the wild grinding and gold grinding and 4 hour Scholomance’s and 24 hour Alterac Valley for all these years and these people go back willingly! What!

During game time, Dark enjoys some nice Bourbon and Doritos. When I asked him who his least favourite NPC was, he hummed and hawed and we thought about it for a while, but then reached the conclusion that presently it is Moira’s son. Sorry Moira. I don’t even remember your kid’s name but I do know I want to throw him into Beledar. The best NPC is, of course, Chromie. Anyone who thinks otherwise will be assimilated. He does also like everyone’s favourite WoW goth girlfriend Sylvanas. Dark and I are soul siblings; like me, he hasn’t read quest text in years. We just blindly follow instructions to mass murder and commit ecological genocide without ever knowing why.

Dark is hoping the next big thing in WoW is player housing. Dark’s hopes came true! It is! I came to observe that player housing is a desire that transcends all of the varied interest groups in WoW. PvPers, PvEers, casuals, hardcore folks – everyone wants their own house. That probably speaks loads about the economy because we all know ain’t no one can afford a house these days. He also really enjoys profession stuff.

Dark’s favourite book is Jade City, and he really liked the Red Rising series. His preference is sci fi novels. He just started the TV show White Lotus and is enjoying it so far, and his favourite movies will surprise the pants off of you. Drumroll, please… it’s Boondock Saints and the Matrix. He’s been in MoD since end of BFA, and really loves that he can get AOTC at the end of every season by tagging along to heroic raid.

Until next time,
Wen