Just a few thoughts...

Fatalist

I love reading opinion posts, reminds me how complex the human condition is.  If a player doesn't like a game, it's obviously the games fault?  If a player loves a game it's obviously to the games credit?  Both can be true, but more so it's a representation of the human condition - different things please different people.

As an example, I'm one of the older gamers out there and I don't remember logging into a single MMO and hating it (Well, maybe except for the first day of Anarchy Online and its massive memory leak, but I'm not talking about bugs).  There's always been something for me to enjoy and I've never found myself to be overly critical either way.  But I come from the generation that spawned Pong on black and white televisions and played MUDS that were completely text based.  From where I stand, the games of today and their eye candy, as long as there is a god story behind it, are leaps and bounds better than those I grew up with.  So I've played them all and never once compared one to another, that's not all together fair.  Again, that's my take and yours may differ.

But being overly critical of a "game" can often create so much hype (positive or negative) that often people forget a game is just that.  A game.  If you don't like it play something else! And for everything you dislike I'm sure there's people out there who like it, content or mechanics wise.  Not at all a legendary post on my part, I have no point but to share my opinion.  I appreciate all the feedback given on ESO, I just wanted to spread a bit of my story.

I'm a disabled combat veteran who is a shut in.  My days aren't filled with laughter and good times.  I struggle to find the positive side of things, but it is a major hurdle.  For me, playing MMO's gives my body and mind time off from the realities of my life.  I have to look for the good in things and gaming for me is a tool I use for therapy.  It often pains me to read what can be seen as hate towards other players and even a 'game' that I just had to comment in an effort to at least let others know, not to take things too serious.  Life is too short.

 

Thanks for reading.  

Celdryn

I play with zone chat disabled most of the time. I get tired of immaturity and general "meanness" of folks in game (any mmo) I don't know why I even come to these forum sites. I just end up subjecting myself to stuff I can barely stand to read. Not to say that your post is a part of that. 

 

In short, good on you for being able to find that adventure and world. Its a nice break from the reality of things. I haven't served in the military nor am I disabled but I play for the same reason you do, to find that enjoyment and escape from the 9-5 and "real life".

 

Not to say that my life is bad either, feel like I am complaining haha even though I just trying to say " I hear yah bro".

laserit

I sincerely wish there were more people like you OP. Your sacrifices are appreciated.

 

I believe it's the hardships we experience in our lives, that makes us complete and able to acknowledge the big picture.

 

TheDarkrayne

It's a shame all the people who can act normal hardly ever post on this site. The OP is one of them. Not saying I'm any better.. I get in some stupid arguments on here about games myself.

You'd just get pulled into the trap if you posted more though.. and become like everyone else on here. The rot is so strong it'll corrupt all of you.

Fatalist

Originally posted by Robokapp

you mentioned using mmo's as a therapy tool. Would a game not be better fit for this when real emotions are invested in it? I dare claim most players don't truly hate each other in game at all...even when displaying aggression towards one another.

I understand your point, surely. But you also make my point later by suggesting that people trading insults among each other aren't taken seriously. You do make your point, from YOUR perspective and It's definitely ok to find my claim 'not to take games seriously strange'. Whereas I find your claim odd as well, because how can you take it serious? I'm not saying you can't, perhaps I'm saying - why? I mean, it is a game right?

And secondly you can't possibly begin to imagine whether investing real emotions in a game is good therapy for me or not.

Serious to me, is life and death. Serious to me, is the darkness I live my day in. Why should I login to a game and take it serious or make it real? My desire to keep it lighthearted may be "strange" to you, but okay.

-Any time the leader leads something he does it yelling from the top of his lungs.

-Everyone loves it. It feels like the game is a lot more real. While the pixel-killing may be unimportant, not pissing off The Big Sausage is as real as it gets.

I loved it. the guild had its structure, had its dynamics, and despite the myriads of insults, they were very friendly. it was like...trading punches. That was their notion of fun and they were having a blast in this toxic atmosphere.

Yelling at the top of a persons lungs and a toxic atmosphere maybe your thing, but that would be devastating for me. Should I take the person seriously? You're finding my NOT taking the game seriously is strange, taking the Big Sausage seriously may be fun and good for you. But you're not in my shoes are you? In your reply you find my comment strange where I find your reply just indicating you don't have the ability to look at my post from my perspective instead you share your own and call mine strange. Yes my friend, the human condition is indeed strange. I'm seriously glad you have fun playing the game your way though. I just couldn't possibly play at that level is all.

 

Viadric

Thank you for fighting and serving our country!

Fatalist

Thank you to all who replied. I appreciate your good words and even your comments that may oppose mine.  I don't come to the forums often, some of the things said seem too hurtful for me to read.  People like me probably don't belong on forums, which is why I usually don't frequent them.

But I do appreciate good reading when I can find it and even more so appreciate it when I find good people are still out there, even in the crazy world of online gaming.

Hope you're having fun in ESO! I wont be able to lay until June.

Arndush

Originally posted by Fatalist

Thank you to all who replied. I appreciate your good words and even your comments that may oppose mine.  I don't come to the forums often, some of the things said seem too hurtful for me to read.  People like me probably don't belong on forums, which is why I usually don't frequent them.

But I do appreciate good reading when I can find it and even more so appreciate it when I find good people are still out there, even in the crazy world of online gaming.

Hope you're having fun in ESO! I wont be able to play until June.

Fellow veteran here. 1996 - 2003. Navy PO2. Got out due to a leg injury. Nothing heroic, just me being stupid. Keep strong brother. Don't hesitate to reach out to someone on your bad days and if no one you know or trust is around, drop me a PM, I'll listen. If we vets don't take care of each other, no one else will.

delete5230

 

I'll admit I do my share of bitching.  I know I shouldn't take games so serious, however my anger comes from the fact that mmos are made less of a virtual world for us to make, and more for developers to make us play there story.  I don't go way back. My mmo days started with Vanilla World of Warcraft.  Since then I played DAOC, EQ2, Vanguard a little of LOTRO, and D&D Online.  All of the above giave us lore and some back round and allowed us to run with it and play as we feel.  As of the last few years developers direct our story......This is where my anger comes from.  So far I'm enjoying Elders Scrolls Online but I'm only level 8.  Time will tell if it will be an open game or not.  I don't mind very short story quest lines as long as I have some freedom.

Instigator-Jones

Originally posted by Robokapp

 

Despite trying, despite real life obligations, I simply cant play a game like a casual can. I see no point to it. I'd rather go straight to bed after work and hope I dream of something more stimulating than playing a game with the mindset of not mattering.

This sums up the opinion rather nicely; it suggests that you look for stimulation that may be considered negative or too intense by some. This type of energy, in my opinion, ruins the experience within MMOs. I look for story, interaction, teamwork, and challenge FROM the game. During moments when I've encountered over-zealous or forceful personalities, I'm either derailed by their actions, watching and listening as one would observe a car wreak, or tuning out and irritated that such a person exists in my play time. If there is one thing that will destroy a game more quickly than a buggy code, it's the community of negative players.

OP... You're not the only one.

kartool

Play the games you like, with people you like. The rest is just background noise.

Bigdaddyx

Originally posted by Vannor

It's a shame all the people who can act normal hardly ever post on this site. The OP is one of them. Not saying I'm any better.. I get in some stupid arguments on here about games myself.

You'd just get pulled into the trap if you posted more though.. and become like everyone else on here. The rot is so strong it'll corrupt all of you.

I don't even know what you mean by 'normal'? yes this website attracts lot of critical people because you cant be that critical on official forums and fan sites. These forums give these people an oppertunity to voice their opinions.. that doesn't mean they are abnormal.

Thornrage

Originally posted by kartool
Play the games you like, with people you like. The rest is just background noise.

This is what makes most games last a long time for many people.

When I hit 60 in WoW before the first expansion, I quit the game. But a friend of mine convinced me to come back because of a guild he joined. I returned and spent 2 more years playing because of the fun I had with my guildmates.

The guild I am in now is a fun guild and I think this could lend to a long adventure in ESO.

Cougan

Originally posted by Bigdaddyx

Originally posted by Vannor

It's a shame all the people who can act normal hardly ever post on this site. The OP is one of them. Not saying I'm any better.. I get in some stupid arguments on here about games myself.

You'd just get pulled into the trap if you posted more though.. and become like everyone else on here. The rot is so strong it'll corrupt all of you.

I don't even know what you mean by 'normal'? yes this website attracts lot of critical people because you cant be that critical on official forums and fan sites. These forums give these people an oppertunity to voice their opinions.. that doesn't mean they are abnormal.

I have to agree with the OP

 

The people who post hundreds or even thousands of times on a subject they are not involved in would be strange in a lot of other areas. I dont like racing games but I dont go posting on their forums 24/7 about it.

 

Its common for people to discuss and criticise a topic they're interested in. Its an unhealthy obession to post pretty much the same thing however hundreds of times as I see some posters do   I'm sure we read it the first few times.

 

You get the odd few with a obvious agenda (play this game instead its x fun! every pos!) but the rest are a mystery. I'm just talking about the ones who put a negative spin on anything.

 

 

 

 

Sephros

Im having a harder time reading forum psych's everyday.