04/03/2012

The End of an Era

Today my WoW subscription runs out and I won't renew it. For many people that wouldn't be a big deal, and I'm sure there are a fair number of players around for whom it's completely normal to let their subscription lapse repeatedly and then just renew it again whenever they feel like playing. Not for me though. I've been playing this game pretty much continually for five and a half years. I was devoted to it, and paid Blizzard hundreds of euros for the privilege of continuing to play, but now that I'm done I think I'm done for good. I'm not good at enjoying things in half measures.

To be honest, it had been a long time coming. Basically, I've only been logging on for the rated battlegrounds for months anyway, and ever since I started playing The Old Republic, I'd find myself stalling even then, thinking, "I like my rated battleground buddies, but I'd rather be playing Star Wars to be honest."

However, social ties are extremely powerful. Just because I didn't want to let the team down, just because I have only limited ways to talk to some of my WoW friends outside the game, Blizzard got another couple of months worth of sub money out of me. I really do think they've got their priorities all wrong by not caring more about the social aspect of the game.

Anyway, eventually it became too frustrating regardless, and I decided that I wasn't going to keep paying for what had basically become a fancy chat client for me at this point. I only have so much free time to spend on MMO playing, and I'd rather be spending it on a game where I actually have fun with the game itself too.

So I made a goodbye post on our guild forums, which I tried to keep light-hearted and positive, emphasising that I still wanted to stay in touch on a personal level if at all possible. Most of the people who replied seemed to take it well, but some also seemed to take it harder than I expected - in writing it can be a bit hard to tell sometimes whether someone is completely serious or adapting a slightly tongue-in-cheek tone.

Two days after I made that post, our rated battleground team leader also threw in the towel. I've been assured that it's not my fault, and I could definitely see signs of his growing frustration long before I made my announcement, but it still left me feeling extremely awkward, as if I had personally gone and ruined the game for a whole bunch of other people as well.

Logging in one more time on my last evening also felt very strange. There was nothing different about the game of course, but knowing and thinking about how it's the last time makes all the difference in a person's head. I felt waves of nostalgia wash over me as I looked at all my characters, and I may even have become a little teary-eyed, soppy fool that I am. However, it was telling that when a friend asked me whether there was anything I wanted to do on my last day, I couldn't think of anything. Everything that I really used to love about WoW is in the past now.

I put most of my gold into the guild bank because I didn't see a point in having it all just sit there when it could at least be funding guild repairs for a few weeks or something. I didn't delete any of my characters however. Never say never.

Since I couldn't think of anything else that I wanted to do, I just sat down on a rock in Nagrand and chatted a bit. As it was getting late and I found myself wondering what would be the best time to log out, a call went out in general chat from a little orc who was looking for help with the Ring of Blood. We grouped up and I healed him through it; he thanked me and continued on his merry little way. It felt like an appropriate point to stop, after having brightened a stranger's day a little bit.

Since I won't be playing anymore, I'll also be retiring this blog, though I'll still continue to read and comment on some WoW blogs at least for a while I guess. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read any of my posts and shared their thoughts on my writings over the years. I'll now be adventuring in a galaxy far, far away.

23 comments:

  1. I was expecting this for a while now, seeing how your new place picked up - guess that means I should update my blogroll!
    your blog was one of the very few I still read 'despite' being rather WoW exclusive, so thanks for sharing your adventures and insights here for as long as you did and many great discussions in the past. :)

    luckily, parting with one MMO doesn't always mean it's the end of the road for writing and sharing too - it's great to have your voice in this blogosphere and that it will stick around some longer. (and I am still confident you will also try out GW2 when it comes out, hehe!). all the best from here, Shintar.

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    1. It was definitely only a matter of time. I think I hit a "point of no return" in WoW, having been disappointed too many times... even if Blizzard changed it into the perfect game for me tomorrow, I'd still be suspicious of it. :P

      Also, this whole experience has definitely highlighted for me that I can't really play more than one MMO at a time. I'm not really sure how other people do it. If it's not interesting enough for me to want to play it all the time (when I'm in a gaming mood), it's not really worth playing to me anyway.

      And while I follow your GW2 posts with interest and hope for you that it will turn out to be everything you want it to be, I can already see from the previews that it wouldn't be my cup of tea at all. :)

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  2. I shall follow your adventures in that galaxy far far away :) Never say never ...I do occasionally resubscribe when I get the urge to try a class I never tried before.

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  3. I'll miss having your blog to read, Shintar, but I'll put it in our mothballs section in case you decide to revisit it.

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  4. Boo, and I just discovered your blog a couple of months back. And I'm not really interested in SW:TOR, either. :( But I'll give the other blog a try, and see whether I like at least the not-totally-specific topics, and the writing. :)

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  5. As a now ex-Guildmember of Shintar's in WoW, this seems as good a time and place as any to say that Shintar the priest (and legion of helpful alts) will be missed by us in-game every bit as much as people will miss the blog. If not more so. A great healer and a loyal officer, I only have good memories of what Shintar brought to our Guild's video gaming.

    For those that didn't read it yet, the SW:TOR blog is very good also. I'd be tempted to play, except that (rather like Shintar) I don't have time for two MMOs in my life, and WoW + PS3 is still my gaming balance of choice. But reading about it via Shintar's erudite and thoughtful commentary will be the next best thing, I think :)

    Good luck with the SWTOR and new blog!

    Cheerio,
    Boxerdogs / Ruddles

    PS if you want a stellar example of Shintar's diplomacy, she once told me that I reminded her of Tony Blair, and somehow managed to make me think it was a compliment. I swear, no-one else but Shintar could do that......

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    1. You're making me blush... and I only said that you looked like his younger and better looking brother.

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  6. If you haven't quit before, there's a good chance this one won't "take". So it's a good thing you didn't delete your characters. Not a criticism, just an observation.

    Have fun in SWTOR; I tried it and couldn't. But your mileage may vary.

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  7. I wonder if that young orc knew that you helping him would be your last act in a long WoW career and if in some way the thank you he gave you would have felt different for him if he had.

    Saying good bye to anything that has played such a large part of your life for such a long time is a hard thing to do. Some people, people that do not know better will say it is just a game. Yes, it is, and it is so much more to the people that play.

    Sometimes, even if you still like something, there is a time to say good bye. From reading your blog I can tell you have known for a long time that your time to say good bye was here.

    Good luck on your future adventures in the world of gaming.

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    1. Actually the orc's parting words were "see you around". How's that for dramatic irony?

      And yes, WoW has definitely been more than "just" a game for me, it's been pretty much a hobby of its own over the years. And while there are good reasons to stop pursuing a hobby, it's always going to be kind of sad unless you just stopped caring completely.

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  8. *hugs* am already following the new blog, but understand how hard it is to say goodbye to WoW.. I am loving SWTOR big time too :)

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    1. Yay Issy! It's nice to hear from you again, I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been wondering considering that it's been almost four months since you last posted...

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  9. That sucks... your blog was one of the best parts of WoW...

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  10. I'll miss reading your blog.

    Have fun with SWTOR.

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  11. I'm like you in that I've never let my WoW subscription lapse (other than the odd day here and there when putting in new time possibly, which hardly counts). I always think that when the day comes, I will quit and that will be it. Some people take breaks, some people play until they no longer want to. I'm one of the latter.

    I still enjoy WoW, but I fully understand people who no longer do and/or have found other games that they rather play. I hope that you will enjoy your time in SW:ToR, and I might even pop in to say hi now and then - even if I don't play :)

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  12. It's awkward that your bg leader also quit after you, but rather than you "ruining the game" for them, maybe you just reminded them that if they aren't having fun, they can stop at any time!

    It's been a pleasure to follow your WoW blog. Enjoy your new game and blog! Good luck :)

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  13. While this is certainly the end of an era, it also marks the beginning of a (new) era. You are my favourite blogger and I always enjoyed your WoW blog in the same way I now enjoy your SW:TOR blog. Our views are so alike that I sometimes think that it's a bit scary.

    I also find it very characteric of you that your final in-game acts consisted of helping a stranger and donating to your guild bank.

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    1. That's some high praise for sure, thank you. :)

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  14. aww :( *really sad face* Makes me sad to hear you go, I'll definitely miss you in the WoW-bloggosphere.

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  15. Whats the link for your SWTOR blog? ive been playing since launch, and i write my own, be nice to read other peoples experiances are.

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    1. It's right there at the bottom of the post. :)

      swtorcommando.blogspot.com

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  16. I'm sad to see you go, but I'm glad you're moving on to things that make you happy. :)

    Best of luck with your new blog!

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  17. Hi, lovely blogg, and well written =) I will be sure to come back and read some more. Have a good day. / jeji

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