Sunday, April 11th, 2010
Issue: 23   Editor: HowlingMadMika


A Game of Smoke and Mirrors HowlingMadMika

Ragazzi Cativa (RC) versus the Condemned (TC), or so the idea was. An idea by Smoke and Mirrors in order to get crews to actually work for their spot on the statistics. Both crews had similar size and members, and Smoke and Mirrors felt that both had failed to actually do something while being on the statistics. Smoke and Mirrors, a crew that was once on the statistics, is now in the underground realm of Bootleggers, and it was from there that its members decided to bring entertainment to the community while also enjoying themselves.

The crews that were selected, however, chose not to play ball and did not make any attempt whatsoever to wipe one another. Upon introducing the 'game' in a thread on the Game Forum, Smoke and Mirrors stated that both crews had been given a week to act. They were expected to shoot and make an attempt to wipe the other crew from the statistics, the crew that was successful would save its own spot in the process. The frighting question mark was the set-up of the game, seeing the crews were basically told to attempt to shoot, or else...

Both RC and TC chose to not shoot each other and to accept whatever destiny would throw at them. TC sold its spot, disappearing from the statistics and RC stayed. During the days of the Smoke and Mirros game both crews grew closer, with a RC member stating that he found that TC was a bunch of great people, which only made RC less inclined to become aggressive towards them. Despite the improved relationship between the crews, both did bite the dust as Smoke and Mirrors was not happy with the efforts of both crews. Bullets were sent flying towards members of both crews before the week was up as Smoke and Mirrors decided that this game was over.

It was by the guns of jarlax, SelfishGene, and Odin that the members fell. The latter also created a Game Forum thread in which the actions taken by Smoke and Mirrors were explained. Basically the crew had been disappointed by how both RC and TC had behaved, they had not only complained about being chosen, or so the thread said, but had also take a passive stance. “You didn't need to give in to us,” the thread said. “You could have chosen your own options. You could have had a say in how your final days played out. You could have used the accounts that you built up to do something. Anything.”

Although this view was shared by some, others pointed out that both crews had indeed made a stance by choosing not to participate. Both had decided not to play ball and to keep going like they had before. Whether or not that is passive is a matter of debate. It may be to some, however others can see it as not giving in, which is admirable to say the least. Nevertheless, remaining passive did cost both crews their accounts, and it RC also lost its crewspot.

Game over? Possibly, but only for these two crews. Because not long after having wiped and explaining why, Smoke and Mirrors started a new round. This time, owners of Slot machines are the victims. However, the exact how and what has not been explained yet. Of course Slot owners can have low maximum bets, which, amongst other reasons Smoke and Mirrors no doubt thought of, could make them a target in the future.