/EMO FFXI ruminations

I heard about more people pulling the plug on FFXI last night. Its like some kind of epidemic, seriously. I did think about quitting again, have been for a while. I hate EXPing in the new areas, I hate EXPing in the old areas, but I cant go without getting a job to maximum level. God what a waste that would be. I got a party last night on my hite Mage and they were really good people. 3 levels in Garliage Citadel, and a measly 2000 EXP from 37. Gotta be happy with that.

The major thing with the sudden urge to leave, is that for many the game has changed or doesnt hold the same addiction/compulsion levels as it previously had. It just doesnt mean quite as much as it used to. I think maybe there is some kind of problem with people who play MMO’s in general: We look to these games for the wrong things.

Even people who have perfectly fine real lives, like me, might look for that something that they lack, in a game. Its detrimental to your real life in a way. I use FFXI as a means to escape, to see something so different and exist in a place more spectacular than reality, somewhere I can feel useful, feel less bored, and yes to stop feeling quite so lonley. I got a feeling of acceptance and belonging I never get in real life for various reasons.

Its not like I am gonna ask a Mithra to marry me or anything so childish, its just maybe, I need to engage with people. Its best described as “MSN with better graphics”, as I read elswhere.

The problem is, If stop feeling those things for FFXI, it really will become just a game.