(no subject)

[nockergeek]

Well, I'm now the owner of a shiny red GBA-SP, and although I don't have any GBA games for it, I do have FF:CC now. It's a fun game, and even in single-player mode, the GBA comes in handy as an automap. If I had to describe it, I would say it's what you'd get if you poured Final Fantasy 9 and the Legend of Zelda into a blender, put it on frappe' for several minutes, and topped it with a liberal dusting of Celtic music and style. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays with multiple players. I think it'll be a lot of fun.

Speaking of games, the more I think about it, the closer I am to dropping my FFXI account. I haven't totally given up yet, but I don't know if I get enough actual entertainment to justify the $13 spent each month. I feel bad about it, though -- it was a Christmas gift from animarelic and greenwings, and I know that evildennis and hidaman were really looking forward to playing with me. Problem is, I'd prefer a game that can be played casually, in one-hour blocks a couple of nights a week, and FFXI definitely isn't it. That, and the tedium in the game is starting to get to me. If I can get some good playtime in in the next two weeks, I may change my mind, but at this point it's not looking good.

Comments

Re:

[hadsall.livejournal.com]

LOL

sure whatever.

You played all that time and didn't have anything to show for it because you solo'd the entire time. You're level 12 now, get a partner or get into a group! That's what the game is all about! Look up an online leveling guide sometime! If you really want to succeed, and this is not just in games, but in life, you actually have to want to. If not, then why are you even bothering?

And I'm good at games because I seek to be the best in everything. Very telling for you? FFXI isn't a competitive sport lol. Quit if you want, but Square already got what it wanted out of you, and sadly enough I'll have to put you up on that long list of people who weren't willing to give a little to get a little.

:(

Scott

Re:

[nockergeek.livejournal.com]

Actually, I have grouped several times. Whenever I have a long enough block of time to play in (2 1/2 hours or more), I try to find a group, and so far I've always been successful. The reason I end up mostly soloing is (as you would have noticed had you paid attention) that I don't often get blocks of time long enough to make grouping worth the effort. When you only have 30 minutes here or an hour there to play, there's barely time to find a group, get to where they are, and have enough time left to earn enough XP to make the grouping worthwhile, both to myself and to the other members of my group.

That's the other thing. I don't see a game as something at which "to succeed". I see it as a form of entertainment, something to keep me busy in a fun and relaxing fashion. I'm not the kind of person who wants to push and strive at a game, because it's not what I'm looking for in my entertainment. I don't mind putting some time in, but only as long as I feel that I've gotten my time's worth out of it, and only as long as I've had a good time. I don't have any ambitions to be the best at anything. My only ambition is to enjoy the game, to be good enough. I've always been that way; I don't want to be a champion or a loser -- just someone who plays the game for fun.

You're asking me why I'm bothering. The reason is that, as much as I am not enjoying the game, I'd feel guilty if I quit. Why? Because I know my friends want me to play with them. It's not an obligation, but I don't want to let them down. That's the only reason why I didn't throw in the towel back in January (when I switched classes), and it's the only reason I'm trying to find a way to enjoy the game. It's not easy trying to balance the two -- I know my friends don't want me to do something I don't enjoy, but I also know that they want me to be there with them.

(And actually, all Square's gotten out of me so far is 2 months of PlayOnline membership. My play from 11/25 to 12/25 was free, the rest of December was neglible -- something like $2.50 -- and they've gotten January and February fees. As I've said, the game was a gift.)

Oh, and a final note. I'm not maligning the way you play games. You seek to be the best, and you pour lots of time and energy into being the very best you can be. That's fine for you -- it's what you enjoy. All I ask is that you not malign me for not being the same way. When I said it was "very telling," I meant that it didn't surprise me that you'd be the kind of person to stick with a game that was a lot of work.