belgeode

To be honest, I got into playing MMORPGs because I was going through a divorce... a pretty nasty one, and it was either find something to occupy my time, or end up either killing her or being killed by her.

I chose Star Wars Galaxies (July 8 2003), and never looked back. Ironically, I first logged into the game on HER computer at HER apartment. It would not be till months after that I could get my own computer and internet (DIAL UP!!!)

I will use a beta primarily as it was intended- to provide valid feedback to the devs on the game in progress. I also use it to figure out how my characters will look, and what kind of story I eventually want them to tell. As far as outright roleplaying, well unless I have been playing the beta with like minds, that is hardly in the equation for me.

I'll revisit this if and when I ever get into the GW2 beta.

I agree 100% with this post. In my experience, I have run big guilds, small guilds, been a CEO of a virtual airline, an elder liason between guilds... All stints that have lasted at least a year of real time. These were some of the best moments of my gaming history, and also some of the most challenging.

I am constantly amazed at the circle of (now) real life friends that have remained by me long after "the good old days" are gone, and the next game comes along.

I will say this though, the leadership role that has given me the most joy hands down.... is when I game with my daughter and/or son. There is nothing more rewarding for me.

" The harpies don't actually wreak havoc on the damn..."

Dam those dam harpies!

Another winner of an article Elisabeth! I share your sentiments that even if you lost, you have not REALLY lost in a persistent world.

I cannot wait for preorder time...

Not for a gaming event, but I did go to Indy for Star Wars Celebration III back in the day.

That having been said, if ArenaNet ever decides to throw me some airfare, I will be on the next plane out there!!! Getting me to come home might be the trick...

Oh that is an easy answer... SWG. I kind of had no choice there...

Nope. I am playing SWTOR right now in anticipation of GW2. i have my GW1 characters, and I check in with them from time to time... But I am on a tight schedule... I have 6 months to get all 8 class stories done, before GW2 comes out (providing ANet plays along and launches in the summer).

With a finite amount of days I can take, I have to be careful with that... but yes, for beta tests where we get that one extra day (whether it be Friday or Monday), I might do that.

Also for headstarts, or launch day, I will make it an all day vacation affair.
I have been known to take a day for that special in game event... but since those often coincide with actual holidays, it is not always necessary.

I guarantee you, with Guild Wars 2 coming up... I am saving my vacation days... some WILL be used!

At the moment, none. But then that is par for my life... I am a man of very few regrets.

My only real regret as far as gaming goes, is that they chose the route they did in SWG, that led to its demise.

I've always said a world with children is a world worth saving. Maybe it is because I am a parent, and subconsciously, seeing kids in a fantasy world I am supposed to be the hero of, makes me a bit more sympathetic.

I actually wrote a blog about this last year, as related to Guild Wars 2. (I listed this as one of the reasons why I was interested in playing the game.) When I played Rift I was actually a bit shocked that there were no kids at all in that game. To me that meant the world was pretty much doomed anyway, if no one was procreating their race. (Defiant machines aside, that is). Ultimately, it was a minor reason why I ended up quitting Rift.

In SWTOR (spoiler) there are a couple missions where you encounter kids (albeit some bug eyed, overly hormonally injected ones), and their presence in the quests tugs at the heart strings and can, in my case, get you to "do the right thing". (What can I say, I'm just a big old carebear)

Anyway, look up Drewciferianisms, if you want to see the blog. It was in May of 2011 I believe, that I touched upon how important I think (the presence of) children are to a virtual world. It makes the world more immersive and believable to me... Not to mention gives you something to fight for.