I want to start this post by thanking everyone for their replies to my post yesterday. Obviously all bloggers love getting comments, but in particular for yesterdays post, your replies gave me the exact feedback I was looking for.
I also want to clarify one point that didn’t sit well with me – I was in no way bashing Aion in yesterday’s post. And I’m a little surprised (and offended) it was labelled that. It’s a sad day when people can’t see past someones opinions and personal experiences in a game they are clearly a fanboi of and label you nothing more than one of the many who waste their readers times by bashing a game they clearly don’t like.
Well, they were wrong. Never did I say I didn’t like the game, in fact I clearly stated I did, I just wasn’t sure if it was for the right reasons. After chatting to my twitter friends (I’m so addicted to Twitter btw, especially with none of my friends playing the same game as me) and I think we worked out what my issue with Aion really is, and that’s a lack of playmates. Some readers confused my loneliness of having a completely barren guild with an unpopulated server. Never did I say that Nezekan was unpopulated.
After narrowing down the major problem to a lack of friends online – and I’m talking about the friends I’ve just spent the past few YEARS with in WoW, not just any random player that is happy to talk to me, I decided to log on last night and spend some time looking at my characters. Of course, being in Australia and 3am PST server maintenance don’t mix to well and I remembered I wouldn’t have any play time last night anyway. Ironic.
The other main problem, which I had to laugh as it hit me the second I logged in, is my lag. I’ve bitched about this before. Telstra can do die in a fire of dog crap for all I care. We are on a proxy now, but a lot of good that did me at 924ms last night /sigh. The lag is going to be a factor for me for as long as we live in this house. Telstra won’t upgrade the lines to the fastest growing area in the state, and as such, the situation is only going to get worse. This is also a contributing factor to my non-enjoyment playing ANY online game at the moment – hubby had to quit raiding in WoW because of it, and he loves raiding in WoW.
This morning, I decided to tidy up my screenshots folder and clean out any old ones. In doing so, I found some that I took of my characters and did get a glimmer of hope that it was actually the reasons listed above I am not having as much fun as I could be, and not the game itself. Visually speaking, the game is very pretty. We all know that. But there’s something about finding your characters quite… well… hot that makes it even better.
And yes, shock horror I am a female gamer who loves looking at the hot chickies in game. O.o
My little cleric. Interesting playing a healing class that can wear chain lol.
I love my Ranger’s face. I don’t know why, but I just find her so pretty. Sadly, I’m not that keen on the rest of her lol. Not sure if it’s the fairly take bow designs or just a general “meh” feeling about her looks.
The character I love everything about though – face and body – is my Assassin! She’s just cool in every way.
In no way have I given up on Aion. I don’t hate the game, I am not bashing it and anyone who got that from my post needs to read it again… slowly. I can only assume going forward that I will be doing it alone, if I do it at all. Yes I could try to find another guild and/or new friends, but I’m not the sort to put myself out there to random people easily. For one, it can be more trouble than it’s worth and pugs make my skin crawl. And two, for me personally, I can’t guarantee my time availability with a toddler that likes to fight sleep. It’s the reason I only ever did friend/guild groups in WoW – the understood. Random pick ups are not so understanding… or forgiving.
And I definitely don’t want to venture into any PvP areas on my own… I want my back covered!
Hmmm, I never thought you hated it… quite the opposite, writing a Blog about something takes commitment to what you’re writing about, otherwise your words fall flat.
I still stand behind my PvP comments (just in general, so many people in Aion are so busy grinding that they never just want to have fun doing other things) and my loneliness comment, but I have to weigh whether these things are worth my time to push through.
I still feel at some point in the future, I will have to switch to Old Republic, as that is catching my attention… and since a TON of console games are coming out this month and next, my Aion time might start dwindling…
But I totally understood your post. Frustration, is frustration, and sometimes we are frustrated more when we love something that much and we don’t know how to fix it.
As I said in my last comment, we shall see!
@Velcro_Monkey I read your previous blog and didn’t perceive that as bashing at all, but sad ( as I am too) #Aion
via Twitoaster
Solution to Aion challenges: We could vent and talk to one another. I don’t play on your server or your side, but it would give you someone to play ‘with’ =P
Downfalls: 1. Could never group 2. Could never craft for you 3. I play Elyos side so I would never know what you’re talking about 4. Still prefer Assassin over Ranger and I am really not familiar with the class that much 5. I am 39 now 6. The lag time while talking 7. I don’t have as kool of accent as you do…
Bonuses to talking to me on Vent: 1. I can be helpful 2. I have a 5 month old son so I can understand random AFKs 3. I am frequently up after midnight PST playing 4. Server down time doesn’t mix well for me either 5. The guild I started has a vent server 6. We could help each other pvp in a way… 7. I live in Oregon so its a win/win 8. You’re looking for a gaming friend.
Now that you have 15 things to consider as to why it would be a good idea, your basically set for the week. You shouldn’t have to think about anything else… yep. I even made it easy – there are more pros than cons.
Also I find your ranger’s face very attractive. Not sure how you/Aion pulled it off but the eyes are beautiful.
Hope your day is good =P
Sorry, I wanted to clarify that I wasn’t labeling anyone but Syp and Syncaine as bashers. I also didn’t take your post the way you thought I took it. I think you like AION, not hate it. And after carefully re-reading my post, I don’t see where I said that you were bashing the game. In fact, the only place in my post that I mention bashing is in the last paragraph:
“I read a lot of AION blogs on the internet (a few less now that folks are jumping ship) and have noticed the same negative themes that Alexan has, so much so that I even wrote a post on my own blog about all the negativity surrounding the game right now (Another Aion Blog) in which I took exception with both Syp’s and Syncaine’s posts bascially bashing the game without ever having played it! I mean, if you’re gonna bash it, at least try it or bash it and be done with it and move on.”
and the only reason that I take exception with their posts, is that they haven’t even played the game! So, I’m sorry that you got so defensive about it and lashed out by calling me a fanboi. I didn’t mean to imply that you were bashing the game.
Clearly a Fanboi. /sigh
Yeah I would totally be on board for an Aion community vent server. I have recently lost most of my interest in my guild, and am looking for new people to talk with myself (other then my few rl friends playing). I already spend a great deal of time talking with the blogging community about my feelings on the game, it would be nice to talk to people who enjoy the game while playing as well.
I really wouldn’t even mind picking a server/side and rerolling and forming a legion out of that, a community of people who like the game and are seeking people to enjoy it with them. Although I understand we are scattered all throughout the game and coordinating that would be a logistical nightmare.
However I may post something along those lines on the blog today, and feel free to voice your opinion about it.
@Mojeaux – The reason I took your reply to include me in the bashing of Aion was mostly based around the line “have noticed the same negative themes that Alexan has” – kinda makes it sound like you’ve jumped me in with Syp’s and Syncaine’s posts.
@Arafax – You put such a huge smile on my face last night LOL. I was playing Torchlight and read your reply in the email notification hehe. That’s such an awesome offer!! Ironically too, you live in Oregan… the area me and my hubby want to move to when/if we ever get to the states LOL. It must be fate?
I’m going to be jumping back on my Assassin next time I play I think… so another thing we’ll have in common. And yes, I’m very much liking my Rangers face hehe.
@Alexan – Ah, I see where the misunderstanding was. I guess I wasn’t clear. I meant that I had noticed the same negative themes that you had noticed, NOT that you HAD the same negative themes.. I should’ve wrote the word “noticed” to have been clearer. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Aaah ok, now I get it. All clear now