For wow, I think I just logged off, never deleted, never gave anything away.

For Eve-online, I did a different approach. My characters were to valuable and I spent too much time working n them to just let them sit collecting dust. So I game them to friend, in the hopes that they will be of continued use and enjoyment. As far as I still know, they are still out their... making my friends happy. *sniff*

Ironically thought, I very much considering going back to wow, though being out of the grind for 2 years. Glad I didn't delete my dwarfpriest now.