Hey. I recognise how very vain it is to make a goodbye post, but I'm doing so anyway for multiple reasons. Number one is to clarify a few thoughts. Number two is to solicit some advice, where possible. But mostly, I'm doing it since this place constitutes a significant chunk of my life, and certainly means a lot to me.
I started this game back in April '04. It is now August '09. Wow, how time flies when you're having fun. I've seen this game come from its humble beginnings. I've seen it through all its twists and turns, its highs and its lows, its peaks and its valleys, its acclaim and its controversies, its most popular and its least popular. I've seen it change hands from one company to another. I've been with this game longer than a solid chunk of our current developers. I've borne witness to and participated in enough online drama to satisfy me for a lifetime.
I've complained bitterly and heaped praise. I daresay I'm more known for the former rather than the latter. I'd like to say that I'm not demanding.. but I'd be lying. I complain simply because I care. I care because this game is a very good game, despite what you may have concluded based on my countless rants and ravings. It is such a good game that it managed to save me a lot of money on its competition, simply because it's so superior. It has ruined any chance I could have to play another online game, I believe. But regardless, I'd like to say that my complaints at times were exaggerated. I
wanted things to change, simply because I recognised potential where I saw it. When I see a good thing, all I want to do is figure out a way to improve it even more. When I figure out a potential path of improvement, I've been known to exaggerate its necessity. For that, I'd like to apologise for any misunderstandings I've created. I do enjoy this game. I don't spend my every waking moment complaining about it and never play it.
I'd also like to apologise to those who I've butted heads with in ages past. Internet drama is totally unnecessary and gives the moderators a headache. To Frostweaver, to Circuit Boy, to TOTALITY (if he's still around), to Philotic Knight (to some extent), and to many others - my sincerest apologies for my stubbornness and intensity.
I'd also like to thank very much the following three individuals in especial: james_joyce, redbone1 (I believe was the handle - I distinctly recall redbone or something to do with -bone) and Arcanaville. Why these three? I don't really
know them, not as friends - but whether they know it or not, they have had a profound impact on my life.
I thank james_joyce for his extremely well thought out political views. Contrary to what many may think, occasionally a person's mind can be changed very substantially based on a powerful argument. Because of our rare (and entirely forbidden) debates, I feel my political views have changed only for the better. I feel I have become significantly more informed. My political views are highly unique and are no longer bound by party. Thanks once more.
I thank Redbone due to a long dead, entirely forgotten debate regarding UFOs, the supernatural and generally any other superstitious phenomenon. Back then (a mere ... two years ago?) I was much more gullible and willing to - as the X-Files might say - Believe. Redbone took that Belief and buried me under a mountain of evidence and logic. It was the most brutal humiliation I've ever had and shook me to my core. I never admitted it, but I lost that debate. Rather badly. Consequently, my standard of evidence and proof jumped about a thousand fold. I would not have my current fixation with logic were it not for that debate. Thanks once more.
I thank Arcanaville for two reasons: ( [3x - 3x^2 +1]^744 ) x ( [- 3x + 3x^2 +1]^745 ) *cough* Yeah, you guessed it. One is mathematics. Without her incredible ability to bury the opposition under a load of accurate calculation, my knowledge of mathematics would be significantly more feeble than it is today. As you'll see if you keep reading, mathematics is going to hold a very special place in my heart for the rest of my life, and especially the next four years. The second reason is that Arcanaville has one of the more unique writing styles I've ever seen. It is simultaneously highly professional, technical and concise without losing even an ounce of personality. You can sense the biting satire and dripping sarcasm oozing from the very pixels that constitute her words. However, one thing has always bugged me.. it's. friggin'.
intrinsically. not intrinsicly.
Just thought you ought to know! Anyway, I feel you've certainly contributed towards my expertise with the written word, although it is still far inferior. Thanks once more.
I'd also like to thank my in-game friends! Though many of those I've considered myself
close to (which is to say, interacted with on a personal level) have moved on and severed contact, two have remained: Cybernetic Hobo and Tian. I haven't really gotten to know Hobo as much as I have Tian, but they're both still special. Hell, you spend four years with people, you're going to start enjoying their company. Hopefully I'll keep in touch with the both of you as I move on (though, I'm afraid I'll have to gut you if you don't, Tian - you said you would!).
Which brings me to the final portion of my long, rambling farewell. If I love my game, reach new heights of personal advancement, and greatly enjoy the company of my friends, why am I leaving? Well, as strange as it may be to say..
AC is going to college on August 24th, a mere week from today. I will be going to a small community college in central Texas in order to acquire some credits cheaply (along with a host of other reasons, but that's the main one), and after a year, I'll transfer to one of three universities (UT Austin, UT Arlington or Texas A&M) to complete a degree program focused on Aerospace Engineering. Yup.. AC's going to be a freakin' rocket scientist, if he's smart enough and can hack it.
The game, however, must go. I cannot sit idly by and be sucked into a game when education demands my concentration. I realise I will not be
that busy during college, especially the first year, but I am not going to run the risk. I have heard too many horror stories of people trying and failing at college because some other pursuit demanded too much of their time. The game will be gone at least a year. I will not return until a) I'm kicked out, b) I fail miserably at schoolwork and kick myself out, or c) (ideally) I'm adjusted to life in a large University and have loads of idle time.
It's not about just completing the coursework, either. Engineering, especially the subdiscipline I'm entering, is easily one of the most technical occupations known to man (or so I'm told). It will demand all my concentration and intelligence - and that's assuming I have enough to begin with.
You may have been wondering when I'd be soliciting advice... well, this is it. I'm a first generation college student. None of my friends are college graduates (except for the two I've mentioned by name above), none of my family are college graduates, and in general, I am completely and totally alone in my desire to pursue higher education. I know nothing about it - nothing. If anyone,
anyone has
any tips they wish they'd known, or habits they wish they'd gotten into, or just anything you can think of... please, let me know now.
This last request is why I'm making my farewell post now instead of on the 21st (the eve of my account deactivation). I doubt I'll refrain very much from posting, although my post frequency has dropped significantly as late, so it's not my last post by any means. But I felt like I needed to get it out in the open now.
Anyway... thanks, everyone, for making my time on this game something special. This game would be nothing without its tight-knit community of gamers and developers. You're truly amazing.
Hey. I recognise how very vain it is to make a goodbye post, but I'm doing so anyway for multiple reasons. Number one is to clarify a few thoughts. Number two is to solicit some advice, where possible. But mostly, I'm doing it since this place constitutes a significant chunk of my life, and certainly means a lot to me.