I was thinking about this topic a few weeks ago when chatting with MOP’s Eliot about some of our formative experiences in the genre. I never really got on with EverQuest 1; I found it deeply disappointing after my time in a sandbox like Ultima Online (and later, Asheron’s Call), and if it hadn’t been for very dear friends and allies (many of whom I still have!), I seriously doubt I would’ve stuck around. As it was, I endured so much harassment and drama during EQ that by the time I did leave permanently – for Dark Age of Camelot – I took a break from leading guilds for my own mental health and came very close to leaving MMOs, maybe forever, at that point. (The fact that 9/11 happened in the middle of all that certainly didn’t help.) I needed that break for sure. If it hadn’t been for the launch of Star Wars Galaxies, well, I don’t know whether I’d still be here in MMOs.
Of course, that was 20 years ago now, and I am indeed still here. The genre tried to get me to quit a decade ago by shutting down all my favorite games, and it failed then too. Sorry, MMOs, but I ain’t leavin’. Get used to it!
Have you ever gone a long period without playing MMORPGs? What brought you back?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
