Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The best complaint is an empty seat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-soapbox-the-best-complaint-is-an-empty-seat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-soapbox-the-best-complaint-is-an-empty-seat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-soapbox-the-best-complaint-is-an-empty-seat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Unless you're protesting a lack of seating options. But that's a different blog.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

This is a public service announcement for you. Yes, you, with the post open for the message board and your finger hovering over the "post" button. I can't see what you've got written there, but I'm willing to bet some form of "turning the game into World of Warcraft" is there if you're posting about another game. Or possibly FarmVille. Hopefully I'm getting warm.

Look, the point is that I now you're about to post this hateful diatribe about threatening to leave. But I've got a better suggestion for you. How about you delete that post, unsubscribe, and then head outside for a walk with some friends. Play a different game, maybe an offline one, for a couple of days. Don't whine and just leave.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The best complaint is an empty seat

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The best complaint is an empty seat originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationcomplainingculturedepartingfeaturedforumforumshumorleavingofficial-forumopinionpostssoapboxthe-soapboxunsubscribingwhiningTue, 22 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What tells you it's time to quit?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/the-daily-grind-what-tells-you-its-time-to-quit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/the-daily-grind-what-tells-you-its-time-to-quit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/the-daily-grind-what-tells-you-its-time-to-quit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sometimes it's an encounter that just rubs you the wrong way. Sometimes it's the breakup of a guild, and sometimes it's just one or two friends who leave. And sometimes it's just a matter of realizing after a week-long break that you no longer look forward to logging into the game. From Lord of the Rings Online to Champions Online to EVE Online, whatever your game of choice or playstyle, there comes a point when you know that it's time to stop playing. Maybe not forever, but at least for now.

In all likelihood, you're not playing the same game now that you started with. It's quite possible you've started and stopped many different games by this point. So what convinces you that it's time to stop with a game for at least the moment? Losing friends? Endgame structures? Or do you just plan to head off for another game when it launches, with the expectation that you'll return if your new haunts don't hold up?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What tells you it's time to quit? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationchampions-onlinecoculturedepartingeveeve-onlineleavinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionquttingsigning-offtdgthe-daily-grindunsubscribingMon, 11 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you vote with your wallet?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/the-daily-grind-do-you-vote-with-your-wallet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/the-daily-grind-do-you-vote-with-your-wallet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/the-daily-grind-do-you-vote-with-your-wallet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There are certain changes, usually big ones, that don't exactly produce... positive reactions. In fact, they generally produce screaming rants and huge doses of rage at how they were handled and implemented. You know the sorts we're talking about. Star Wars Galaxies and the Combat Upgrade. Ultima Online and Trammel. Final Fantasy XI and the nerfs to Beastmaster "catch and release" tactics. All loathed changes, many of which led to an exodus of players.

Really, leaving a game can be the best way to express displeasure with a change. It's the surest way to send a company the message that they've done something that will no longer justify your monthly subscription. On the flip side, your individual impact is small, you once loved the game... a lot of players will choose to rough it out, in hopes that things will improve or with the knowledge that the changes can't be all that bad. And for games where you have a lifetime subscription or are experiencing it free-to-play, your absence isn't really a deterrent at all.

So, do you vote with your wallet? When you're fed up with what's been done, do you head off for greener pastures? Or are you of the mind that it's not even worth the bother, that they might well not even tie your departure to the change, even if you say so?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you vote with your wallet? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beastmasterscancelingcombat-upgradef2pffxifinal-fantasy-xifree-to-playgame-changeslifetime-subscriptionp2ppay-to-playquittingstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindtrammelultima-onlineunsubscribinguowalletTue, 29 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When is it time to give up?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/the-daily-grind-when-is-it-time-to-give-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/the-daily-grind-when-is-it-time-to-give-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/the-daily-grind-when-is-it-time-to-give-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It's almost the end of the year, time for us to evaluate what we're doing and consider dropping our bad habits. And... well, sometimes your favorite game becomes one of those. Sometimes your most-played class gets hit with the nerf bat so hard you can barely walk any longer, or the game's updates are constantly dropping more and more content you find boring or don't even get to play. You might have loved the game for a long time or even just a little while, but time isn't aging it well and you're increasingly dreading logging on.

Today, we ask a sad question: when is it time to shake your head and decide that enough is enough? Does one major power-down on your character of preference tell you that you're not really wanted, or do you stick around until everything has been drained dry? Are you the sort who gives the game time and chances to win you back, or do you leave and never even glance back at where you came from? Or do you never say goodbye and just keep playing in the hopes that things will turn around and you'll be glad you waited?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When is it time to give up? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicboredomcontentcultureopinionpatchestdgthe-daily-grindunpleasantnessunsubscribingTue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST