Episode 28: The Meta Glasses Debate, SportsTown 3.0, and the EverQuest Life That Shaped Me

Episode 28 is a journey through two worlds—real-life community building in slow-pitch softball and the unforgettable digital life of EverQuest—and how both shaped the way I think about systems, people, and truth.

We kick things off with SportsTown 3.0, which is now live and free. I break down the new features: Free Agent player cards, Team Ads, League Directory (and how you can help build it), and Scorebook tools that are now being tested by LA Empire. The goal is simple—reduce friction and get more people on the field.

From there, we dive into the Meta Glasses controversy. With leagues and organizations like USSSA starting to restrict wearable cameras, I explore the ripple effects this could have on the community. Not from a place of judgment—but curiosity.

We unpack:

– Why leagues might restrict filming (privacy, umpires, liability, control)

– The creator perspective—documenting amazing plays and growing the sport organically

– The tension between grassroots community energy and top-down governance

– Alternative solutions (consent, communication, flexibility vs. bans)

– The bigger idea: building a bigger table instead of higher walls

Then the episode shifts into something deeper.

EverQuest.

I reflect on how EQ wasn’t just a game—it was a full-on life experience. From nightly raids and server-wide competition to guild loyalty, forum culture, and the chaos of early MMO politics—it was the Wild West.

I tell the story of:

– Living inside the game’s ecosystem (raiding, MMDN, server drama)

– The intensity of competition (single-spawn bosses, kill stealing, guild rivalries)

– The community that became family (Primordial Fury and beyond)

– The “lottery moment” where a duplication exploit made me one of the richest players in the game overnight

– How wealth, power, and perception instantly changed relationships

Looking back, it was a real-life simulation:

What happens when someone young suddenly has unlimited resources?

We also touch on misinformation, reputation battles, and the early lessons I learned about truth vs. narrative through experiences like the Hogmo situation.

To bring it all together, I introduce the track:

“EQ Warriors (Come Out to Play)”

It’s more than a song—it’s a roll call, a tribute, and a thank you to the people who made that time in my life feel real.

Final takeaway:

It was never about the loot or the power—it was about the people, the intensity, and being fully alive inside something.

🎧 Cory Thinks Out Loud – Episode 28

SportsTown 3.0 is live. The conversation is open. And the story continues.