Dasha_Blade

In addition to what others have mentioned, I'll add that CoH is the only MMO I've played (or know others IRL who played) where the policy against abuse and bullying is actually enforced. Because of this, the jerkwads don't feel welcome, or are forced to modify their behavior and act like human beings. The community as a whole therefore benefits.

Finally! A use for my character Bugdude, who's been living in a dumpster in King's Row for approximately five years.

Bugdude's been pretty useless otherwise. Maybe now he can feel like he's done something worthwhile.

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Since I found Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series to be incredibly boring and repetitious after about book 4 or 5, I've stopped buying those as well.

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<hugs Dasha_Blade>

Thank you! I'm the only one in my group of friends who thinks this way. I'm not crazy!

<runs off cackling wildly>



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I dunno if I'm an accurate measuring stick to decide if you're crazy or not... Though my theory is that Robert Jordan actually died in the middle of writing the 5th book and the series was taken over by bad fanfic authors.

But now that I've strayed wildly off-topic, I will return everyone to their regularly scheduled rant about bosses.

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I don't really think of them as artists (or, at least, I only secondarily think of them as artists). I primarily think of them as product manufacturers or engineers. They aren't putting out a product just so people can appreciate its aesthetic appeal and well balanced theory... they're putting out a product that people are supposed to enjoy.


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And filmakers don't? Or musicians?

I say artist first and foremost, and there is where we have a basic values clash.

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Since I don't like the newer stuff Metallica has put out, I've stopped buying their albums. Since I don't like the new "episodes" of Star Wars, I don't buy the DVDs. Since I found Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series to be incredibly boring and repetitious after about book 4 or 5, I've stopped buying those as well.

The point is, if the consumers (aka us, the players) are not satisfied with the product, whether it's art or not, it won't sell. There are lots of artists, musicians, writers, and game developers who *think* they have the perfect vision, but I don't fund their stuff, because I disagree.

However... if a game developer wants to live in a one-room studio on a starving artist's budget, he can get on with his bad self and do it. Kinda defeats the purpose of getting into that career, though.

I like to solo. I like to play in groups. As others have mentioned, many of us can't group all the time, or even most of the time. I don't care much for the idea of having to abandon a team 30 minutes after playing because I have to help my son with his homework, or any other of a number of reasons. I like the fact that if I have 2-3 hours to spare, I can get with a team, do a task force or bang out missions, but generally, I'm a much more casual player. I'll log on for half an hour in the morning, then go do my housework, come back after lunch for an hour or so, etc.

I've never felt that soloing was encouraged over grouping. But prior to the new changes, it was at least feasible if not the most desired way to play. And soloing allows those of us who have otherwise busy lives to take a little time out from them to enjoy a great game that otherwise, we might be missing out on... or at least, not getting to play as often as we'd like.