| A Word To Our Players: | |
|
Janus - Retired  |
Before entering Final Fantasy XI, the following words are placed above the Enter and Go Back buttons: "A Word To Our Players: Exploring Vana'diel is a thrilling experience. During your time here, you will be able to talk, join, and adventure with many other individuals in an experience that is unique to online games. That being said, we have no desire to see your real life suffer as a consequence. Don't forget your family, your friends, your school, or your work." I have to laugh, up until now, I don't recall seeing these warning messages before a game. Vana'diel can be substituted with Jedi Academy, Everquest, Counterstrike, CityOfHeroes, Star Wars Galaxies, etc and so forth with every game out there right now. Everquest was my first experience, where it successfully was so much fun, that's all I wanted to do. "Evercrack" was the nickname everyone joked around with, but even that eventually was broken (addiction wise). Cutting to the chase, the retiring and leaving of members lately. Apparently I missed the memo stating that's the "thing to do" here in August. I plan on staying for a long, long time. Unless banned for some ungodly reason, this game stays fun to me, and this community's bond to me remains strong. Onto the true point of this thread. The words that will be said are not meant to be said to offend, but to be said honorably, and with clear, good, serious intent. We all have and lead real lives, that's a given, and a certain chunk of us use our free time to enrich our lives with the wonderful form of entertainment known as video games. In particular comes our very own Jedi Academy. Lo and behold a site that encourages community, education, and honorable play known as The Jedi Academy. Here it's easy to fall in love with the people, the style of play, the everyday things that go on here. In fact, sometimes it seems a better substitute to the things that are less desirable shoved our way in real life. I hate to be the one to come out bluntly, This is only a game folks. At any one point in time, you, and you alone make the choice on whether to play on or tend to life matters. QUITE a few have realized they've let themselves fall into this too too much, and now need to tend to those life matters. I respect that they are leaving for the right reasons, but a piece of me really feels they could have easily stayed, made the choice to step back for a couple few (hours, days, weeks, months) and come back when things were settled and right as rain. A polite request to those considering leaving recently as well. Go, tend to life matters, but do so without leaving this place which you've come to know and love. Communicate to those around you that you see on a day to day basis here and let them know you will be not on as often. If they can't understand this, yeah, well I don't think anyone here won't, it's simple. The reason to make a big fuss about leaving when you know and everyone else knows you'll(those that are leaving) come back within the year at some point just boggles me. For those going, "No, i'm leaving for good." I call you a liar. Coming up on a year's anniversary in a month or so, I've seen a bunch of people leave, and I've seen a bunch of those same people return. Before I ramble for too much, a quick summary and I'll leave you all to go back to your day to days. Play the game, have fun, but know when to stop, simple as that. As for leaving and responsibilities, do what you need to, but just do it. Find a way to that happy medium and tend to real life AND keep your ties here open. Thank you for your time, Janus _______________ Be honorable, be friendly, be trustworthy. Show respect to all whom you meet. Don't forget you learn when you win AND when you lose. Be the first to admit mistake AND the first to correct it. Be the shoulder for someone to lean on. Always remember those that sacrificed time to help you. Thank you Odan Wei, Vladarion, 3th, Moridin, n00b, Motrec, Faded, Leif, and Tido, you will not be forgotten as the ones to make you remember, it's all about fun... |
| Login and add your comment! |
| Comments |
|
Furi0us - Student 
|
Janus is most definitely awesome.  Quote: That being said, we have no desire to see your real life suffer as a consequence. Don't forget your family, your friends, your school, or your work. I was laughing at first, but then I realised that it's true, it does happen. Heck, it happened to me, and only a long break from gaming could fix it. I've managed to balance everything out in my life, and now I can hang out with all the awesome people in the JA  _______________ You are not your f***ing system specs. You are not your uptime stats, your script file, or your oversized desktop screencap. You are not your broadband connection. You are not your f***ing post count. |
|
Kainz00r - Jedi Knight 
|
Great post Janus, I completely agree (Although FFXI will absorb me non the less, but if you see me in game for more that 10 hours shout at me  ) _______________ Fervent supporter of duelling - leave a message if you would like to battle! Married to Masta. |
|
SaberWeildinKow - Student 
|
I agree Janus...but the thing is, not everyone has the kind of control you or others do over their game time (/me points to self). Some people realize that they only way to live their life is to step away completely. |
|
Italian Ice - Student 
|
*nods in agreement* _______________ It's funny how many people know they have the right to remain silent, yet never do. |
|
Gradius - Ex-Student 
|
Quote: Better listen to Janus over here because he speaks words of wisdom. How can you not listen to Janus? I mean, it's Janus! _______________ - Proud padawan of Kueller. - We really are at the beginning of it all. The trick, of course, is to make sure we never find the end. - Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything - <gen-e-sis-happy> Liek, you can train, liek, a n00b, but he'll just be a trained n00b... --> Wise words! - "daer SOE me likes your a company i am having your some money for letting me do stuff cos mes the best amd i do it all meself" - Slider |
|
Carve - Student 
|
Right on, Janus. I myself have found myself in a position where my offline life began to suffer because of my online one. It's sad really, because it all boils down to balance. Balancing the game with real life can be tough to do, especially when you maintain a mindset like, "everyone is expecting me to be online today!" - every day. But sometimes you do just have to take a few days off. Or maybe a couple weeks here and there. Now, I've been here for nearly two years, and I think I have seen a grand total of maybe two actual retirements. Reason being, people take the time off, things get readjusted, and then the person in question realizes that: 1) The Academy is truly a one-of-a-kind place that's a real shame to throw away and 2) There's enough time in between what's necessary to have some fun now and then. Granted I'm writing this from work so I'm a big hypocrite. But yeah. Good on ya, Janus. You da man. _______________ © |
|
Masta - Jedi Council 
|
Better listen to Janus over here because he speaks words of wisdom. _______________ Find out more about the Jedi Academy Aurochs here and more about Masta here! Married to Kain. |
|
Italian Ice - Student
|
and the other 4 hours are with me and sfire while grad cheifs it! _______________ It's funny how many people know they have the right to remain silent, yet never do. |
|
Gradius - Ex-Student
|
You mean, there's ANOTHER world outside of jk3?!? No way! Gimme! But yeah, excellent post indeed. I however have no room to speak, since 20 out of 24 hours of my day consist of online gaming.  _______________ - Proud padawan of Kueller. - We really are at the beginning of it all. The trick, of course, is to make sure we never find the end. - Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything - <gen-e-sis-happy> Liek, you can train, liek, a n00b, but he'll just be a trained n00b... --> Wise words! - "daer SOE me likes your a company i am having your some money for letting me do stuff cos mes the best amd i do it all meself" - Slider |
|
Italian Ice - Student
|
This should be in every forum about every online mp game _______________ It's funny how many people know they have the right to remain silent, yet never do. |
|
Tido - Student 
|
Best damn post of the month. |
|
manta - Student 
|
Yes, good post. |
| Login and add your comment! |