| Coming Back... -Mic Den Octela - May 16 08:02pm | |
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Coming back to THE Jedi Academy is always an interesting experience. New faces, new classes and new ranking members to look up to. People who were new before you lost touch are now up there with the beefeaters. Talking from personal experience, it’s almost enough to stop you coming back in full force. It’s almost like returning to school after a ridiculously long summer break. Will people remember you? Will you remember people? All sorts rush through your head as you attempt to log back in. You get a little feeling of nostalgia as you automatically click-skip the Raven intro as per usual and navigate the menu through to your favorites list with the utmost, but rusty, precision. Feels like you never left eh?
The downside to all this “I’ve still got it” feeling is that it is short lived. Once you’ve greeted everyone you see, new or old, and begin your first duel since your return you immediately realize that you, plain and simply, suck. At times that can put you off, coming on to a server where everyone goes… “omgzor, leik wtf r U doing on t3h serv0r? U R t3h ol’bag–age” then getting your face handed to you on a platter after dueling is a bit of a let down on the old nostalgia flood. (You wouldn’t believe the grief Micro$oft Word just gave me for attempting to write that...) Again, coming back is hard. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve tried. The people I knew just aren’t here anymore, the things I knew no longer function further than in my mind, and it feels like The Academy isn’t for me anymore. That’s where I come along and slap your silly hide back into shape and say “WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU THINKING?” Remember how much fun you used to have just coming on and having a laugh. You don’t have to be able to kick ass to have fun on the servers. You don’t have to own the game to chat on the forums. I know its difficult relearning everything you spent a year or so learning last time and I know that mastering all those techniques and movements will be a complete git, but think of it this way. When you get on the servers, re-motivated and ready to ruuuumble, staring at all the new faces and wondering why you bothered, remember what was good about the Academy and try to rebuild it. Try contacting the people who you used to play with, try getting them to come back on. Dig up some of the old fossils at The Academy and see if they still have some life in ‘em. I’d love to see a repeat of about 3 years ago. Servers being next to full near enough every evening, coming onto jk3 being a common thing. I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t give up. You might think to yourself “oh it’s only a bloody game” and fair enough, it is only a game. So that should mean that there is no stopping you coming back and trying to get used to the game. That’s what you came here in the first place for, why not try again. I’m not the best at coming back, seeing as this is the first Article I’ve wrote since before the prom. Go on IRC. Just, get chatting to a few people. You wont remember why you came here, but you’ll remember why you stayed. Again… Viva La Acadamia!! |
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Odin - Student 
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Every article is 90% like my own story.
VIVA LA ACADEMIA!!! _______________ "Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it." -Darth Bane |
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joca_bt - Student 
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Let me first just say, Viva La Acadamia!!
I totally understand and agree with you Mic. I remember when I first joined, all those people, all of them very fun and nice (and the game was great too ^^), all those servers full, all the joy. Well, but then you leave, for whatever the reason it was. But you know, after a while you start to get all those memories about that awesome place and community, all the friends you've made and stuff, and well, you want to get back seeing all these guys and having fun again in the servers. Like it has been said, it is kinda hard gettin back, this is kinda my experience, you don't remember lots of people and stuff, but when you go through your profile and the forums, you start to get back even more memories. It's really strange, new knights, new instructors, etc.. It's like you were rejoining for the first time, yes there are still some very good people you know around. At first, you get this kinda sad emotion, and you don't have anymore all the time you had in the old days, so you don't stay around for a long time, or maybe you do, it depends. If you stick around you'll realize, these new guys are also very nice and cool, you may do new friendships and have some fun, we'll life changes, time changes, and those things became different. I'll have to admit, Mr. Lightning Rod is right, one of the reasons for me to try to getting to back again was that nostalgia, but then, you face those questions. I'll try to stick this time, but you have university and work, you don't have that much time again. It's been almost 5 years, that's a long time 
Viva La Acadamia, and all its members!! _______________ - Son to Helen Catherine ;p - Random bash.org quote: X: you know what google earth needs? | Y: More 3D buildings? | X: ion cannon button This comment was edited by joca_bt on Feb 27 2009 02:25pm. |
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Acey Spadey - Student 
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Quote: I am a fossil.. and I haven't seen anyone on
fossil?? your in the 12k membership numbers lol _______________ .Lag Bro to Xanatos. Adopted Twin to Bubu. Big-Brother to SmilyKrazy ---- JATSRAD Guru, JASE Member, JA SP Mod Staff ---- The Order of the Stick -- Big thanks to Mango for my avatar -- Quote: Sometimes you've got to specifically go out of your way to get into trouble. It's called fun.
Quote: (Random hella old quote) <Fizz of Belouve> .. in sovjet russia, cereals spit at YOU!
Quote: whats the point of growing up, if your not allowed to act childish!
Padawan - Henkes
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Haggard - Student |
I am a fossil.. and I haven't seen anyone on _______________ Never too late to come back! |
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Mic Den Octela - Student 
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Quote: This was written exactly a year and two days ago.
/whiplash Owch.. So much for my monthly articles... Soon as my exams are over I'll whip some out.  _______________ -Padawan of Virtue -Brother of Menaxia, *|irael, Krynn Adept, Majno, Ris Win Juljul, DaMi3N, Beowulf, Dash Starlight, Carrock and Yuken Zalak Bartender at Munes bar. Sir Mic of Nippledom! Proudly beating Wang, since '07. (Crackdown) |
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Lian Del Rey - Student 
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This was written exactly a year and two days ago.
/whiplash _______________ slorp |
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Cuthalion - Padawan 
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having just red lightning rods post, i dont think i could ever offer this game that much time. However also red bob's post, I really want to be someone's padawan, but i have no clue on how about becoming one. the thing is ive tried asking people in the game for help, but well, they are more concerned with maiming than helping. I bought this game because a friend told me he played it a while back and met some cool people, ive played it for a while now and im yet to meet anyone willing to help. I'm competitive enough to keep at it, but some people arn't and being totally killed in the game is enough to make someone turn away from the game before even getting started at it. All I and every other beginner out there is really in need of is some help.
[My left one is James Westfall, and my right one is Dr. Kenneth Noisewater] _______________ <MaherSenatu> guh... you are just... I'll keep sure that your kind of people will never be knights... <MaherSenatu> That's my mission... Master to Kain Sol |
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[Jawa][Obi-Wan][SW] - Student ![[Jawa][Obi-Wan][SW]](/image_thumbnail.php?f_type=users&f_width=57&f_height=70&f_image=10670.jpg&f_odd=1)
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Wierd indeed lol, but the imporatant thing is that you came back _______________ Monday September 4th, 2006 R.I.P. Steve Irwin"The Crocodile Hunter" "Rejoice for those around you that transform into the force, morn them do not, miss them do not, death is a natural part of life"-Yoda "Who's the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?"-Ben Kenobi "Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious"-Ben Kenobi Guided Specially, by Maher Dakari Sparring partner to Sho Koon, "Spared no expense"-John Hamond Jurasic Park, Padawan of RoseRed, "The oppression of the Sith shall never return, u have lost my lord"-Mace Windu, Owner of Pink Floyd Mintaka's 3700th comment! "Only Two there should be, One To Crave the Power and one to Embrace it" - Darth Bane: Path of Destruction |
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bono_bob - Student |
how fitting.. only i never did recieve training myself the first place... classes were never at times i was available when I first was in the academy and I was never anyone's padawan. Oh and for some reason i do better the first 5 minutes when i first comeback than the 5 hours afterwards.. weird isnt it? _______________ "Darkness is simply the absence of Light" "Is it not easier to snuff out the light completely than to make no shadow or darknes at all and create pure light?" "Is there a limit to Light?" - Jawa Jedi from a galaxy far far way of the one Lucas describes ( not in that galaxy ) |
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Ian Jandos - Student 
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Good Post  _______________ Member #7625 | Since 7.6.04 The Archives |
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Takoa - Student 
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Talking as one who is just about to jump onto the Home server after a long hiatus, I can't agree with you more. I wasn't as dedicated as I was before Jedi Academy came out and we were still just using Jedi Outcast but I still find pleasure in this amazing group of people. Oh well, hope to see some of you online. =]
*wonders if anyone remembers him....* May you always learn from your battles, be they end in victory or defeat. _______________ If you were to stab me in the heart, i would apologize for bleeding on your shirt. -Love may not make the world go round, instead it makes the whole ride worthwhile. |
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Rahn del Sol - Student 
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You were a legend because of your annoying ability to win so often.
I remember beating you once...just one time, using blue stance in JK2, and you were almost in disbelief. Then you came right back in and made things right with the world by smacking me down the next time around. I still stop by this site every now and then just to see how things are going. I'm not sure if I'd ever come back to the JK series unless they made a new game...I don't even own JK2/3 anymore...gave my copies to some people who'd never played them. But I am glad to see JA still alive and well. I've always felt this was one of the rare groups in any game that really behaved like a family and not just a clan of disinterested l33tsters. _______________ http://steamcommunity.com/id/citizen059 |
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Lightning Rod - Retired 
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Quote: Yeah. I used to have a girlfriend that played this game and she had fun no matter what. Different folks, different strokes.
ZOMG i remember this! lol 
But yeah...it's not the easiest trying to return ya know. I've tried quite a few times. See thing is, there are reasons why you leave in the 1st place, and over periods of time we tend to forget what those are. In some cases, we even try and ignore what the reason is, fully knowing it. Sometimes, it just doesn't work very well. In my case, i don't think ill ever be what i used to be years ago. I was much more dedicated, had more free time to use. More motivated and driven to be the best that I could be. I became respected for my talents in game, but talent only goes so far. Vets know this. It's really all about the persons take on how they play the game. You win some, lose some. You really should take each loss as a slight learning experience. Though i can say from moments in the past that its not always the case... I remember always fighting and fighting, only to want to fight more. It became a nice way to be motivated but i quickly learned that if i didn't handle loss the right way, it could become more of an unpleasant thing. At a certain point of the game, when you become established enough to say you've mastered it, (for the most part anyway, lol) you find that there are others like you that may not exactly see things the way you do. Ego's somehow get tossed into the mix. You look back at how much time you've put into being what you are, only to be defeated by someone who obviously has some sort of edge over you. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's reality. What makes it a bad thing is how you take the loss. Sometimes, the person that ends up defeating you might even take it to another level. Like really rubbing it in, to make you angry. I remember making it my #1 goal, to shut the mouths of every trash talker that i encountered. For the most part, honestly i'd have to say i did. I proved to each and every one of them, that there was no such thing as "The Best" lol. Because in reality, there is Always..someone better. It's the individual that needs to realize it and play for fun, and not so much to win. Eventually, i lost my interest in the game. My time devoted into it wasn't quite the same anymore. My skill level remained at a constant level, however you had others that put in their time and effort into becoming better players. I started to see that losses , became a lot more frequent than before. At that point i had to accept that i had no real reason to pursue getting even better than i was. I had accomplished what i wanted, faced quite a few duelists. Had my fun. I also noticed that the community had changed, (not just the ja) no longer did i see the frequent trash talker making abusive comments. Playing for fun was all i really wanted to do, and even then i found i just wasn't having the same fun as i used to. So returning, pretty much becomes a few questions to answer. What is your motivation? Is it playing for fun? playing to help someone else in game? to share knowledge with others? unfinished business? When you find what it is that you'd return for, you'd have to stick with it. Unfortunately, for myself, i dont have much of a reason to anymore. Nor could i if i wanted, a lot of factors play into it. That doesn't speak for the future though, if the situation ever called for it, i just might return. Though it'd have to be a really important reason. Enough for me to stick with it for good. I may be a very specific case, but im almost certain that others like myself, can relate to what i've just explained in some way.
PS: For those that re-enter the scene for nostalgia, they quickly find that its done and over with not long after. Even for me, the experience is limited. I'd get the whole "zomg its lrod the legend" thing, which is nice and all. But even i kinda wonder at times why im even considered to be a legend. Legend or not one shouldn't attempt a return soley based on that, i guess you could say that fire or passion within you would have to awaken somehow again... _______________ Whatcha gonna do when the Rodster runs wild on you!? Roddymania is still runnin wild! This comment was edited by Lightning Rod on Jul 06 2007 09:14pm. |
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Archimage - Student |
I've wanted to come back to JA for quite a long time. My only problem is, I cannot find my disk 1 to install it on my new computer, and can't seem to find it for sale anywhere either  Hopefully I will find it soon, as I really miss you guys!! |
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Henkes - Student 
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Nice article Mic!
and yeah! This is all so true! I just came on tonight after a long absence and I started talking on IRC and after that it was on to the Movie Battles server (for all ye old geezers... just try it, MBII is awesome to play!) and yeah after tonight it's like... OMGOMGOMG! Awesome stuff, had more then a few laughs, and even got taught by Zeke-Azakura, who I, back in my active days, taught the basics on dual saber stance... How awesome is that, getting taught by a guy you used to teach! Viva la Acadamia! _______________ Get on your feet and do the Funky Alfonzo! |
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gerbilOFdoom - Student 
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ahhh, finaly someone posted the icebreakor post. *cracks knuckles loudly with a massive almighty crunch* I still got it man. Jump off a ledge, making one of those wannabe olbies (I'm getting there, not many posts, but look at the date of the first post on my profile, i'm a TJA senior, a few steps away from oldbie... I just hope no posts on my profile were deleted) think they won only to jump up from a hidden inviso ledge and slice them like what obi-wan did to darth maul. PSP wont let me continue darnit. |
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Janiriki - Student 
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umm, well, sortof true i suppose. only one thing that'd be terribly different for me. ........
did you ever see me duel wayyy back 3 years ago? lmao, i CAN'T get any worse! <still poke my nose in ocasionally> Feel the LAG flowing through you ... and tying your shoelaces together! Jani _______________ Proud to be Padawan to Sared "It's not over 'till I WIN!!!" Les Brown |If at first you don't succeed...you're doing about average! «§pecial ©haracters guide» | Winners never quit & quitters never win! |
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Carve - Student 
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Yeah. I used to have a girlfriend that played this game and she had fun no matter what. Different folks, different strokes. _______________ © |
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Laziana - Jedi Instructor 
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Quote: Well it's not as easy for those of us who used to be very competitive about it. Everyone always says "Hey man just have fun" well... personally I'm not a big fan of losing.
I can see your point. I guess nobody likes to lose. But to be honest... for ME, it never was and never will be a matter of winning or losing. In fact, the final outcome is one of the last aspects I have in mind when I am here. On topic: great article _______________ Proud owner of Buster Senatu's 200th & 300th, Muro's 370th, Maher's 2100th, Henkes' 1639th, Johauna's 400th, 666th and 900th, Sho Koon's 2000th and Kain Sol's 600th comment Download Laziana's lightsaber here! Glory to Arstozka! |
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Carve - Student
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Well it's not as easy for those of us who used to be very competitive about it. Everyone always says "Hey man just have fun" well... personally I'm not a big fan of losing. _______________ © |
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SaZ - Student 
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Quote: Agreed, i always love reading your articles mic, keep them coming
yeah, its cool _______________ playing jk3 since 30th of january (2005), member since 1st of february. [Unofficial Master to Vision and Z�diac ] If you can make a fool of yourself infront of 300 people you can do anything - Jaiko D'kana |
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Dash Starlight - Jedi Instructor 
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I had no idea what it is like for older members to come back. Personally, I haven't been away from the JA longer than a week or so.. Anyways it's like Mic said, let's get on the servers and simply have fun. Nice article Mic, well done! _______________ The name is Bond. James Bond. |
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SilkMonkey - Distributor of Cold Ones 
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Tis true. Great stuff man. _______________ |-HK-47 -SilkMonkey: You are receiving a warning for being_too_sexy. If you do not stop, action will be taken against you.|| (11:13:43) � Virtue dances for Silk ||Smiling owner of Smilykrazy's 6000th comment =) ||Odan Wei's Proud Big Brother|| Janus is my official TaruTaru Cuddly Animal Type Person. ||(@Virtue) Or you could just be a man and set fire to your genitals.....you won't fall asleep for days after that.......trust me.||Thomas Skywalker er for sexy for sitt eget beste!!!!| Not changing sig until the JA loosens up. (Started: Aug 31, 2005) |
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Nemesis Nova - Student 
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Just what I needed! _______________ Stop with the stupid sigs would you? Yea sure, why not, i'll stop asking myself things too... |
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Virtue - Jedi Council 
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Awesome article, dude!
Keep it up.
- Virtue. _______________ Academy Architect |
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