A City of Heroes

[Atlantea]

Honestly...I am old.  It's more like Rosa Klebb's Sensible Shoes of Pain.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi4gVq7zsTU

That's NOT HELPING!  LOL   

[Twisted Toon]

Ever since the news about the sun-setting of COH was posted on the CoH forums, I have been thinking about the various MMO communities.
Granted, I haven't visited every MMO out there. I have, however, played several of them.
Of all the MMOs I've been a part of, CoH has had the most unique community that I have seen.
I have a theory about why that may be.

It seems to me that many, I would go so far as to say that a vast majority of the long time players, have invested a lot of themselves into the characters that they play.
In so doing, they are influenced and even inspired to become more like the very heroes that they play.
So, this community, full of players inspired by heroes, acts with more integrity than any other that I have seen.

In a very real sense, this game that people use to get away from the stress of the real world, changes them for the better.
It urges them to actually be the heroes that the real world needs.



I'm sure that this would have been much more inspiring if I had an author's way with words.
It's just really hard for me to put how I feel down on paper, so to speak. 




Oh look. Registered in 2009, and I finally have my first post. 

[DrakeGrimm]

I think you did just fine, there, Twisted Toon.

[Heavy Ion]

The thing to remember about being positive or negative is it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. True, we aren't the hand lingering over the on/off switch, but we can hold that hand back for a long time with our efforts - by telling everyone we know that we love this world and we want it to continue. If we allow despair to take hold, all of the heroes leave the battlefield.

Do everything you can to keep people's spirits up. We need them to keep fighting. Stay optimistic. Focus on what we know to be true - this world is worth saving and there is plenty of realistic hope remaining. If we should lose this fight, don't let it be because there weren't enough people shaking their fists, defiant until the end.

Now everyone pop a Break Free and get back in the fight.

[Nafaustu]

The thing to remember about being positive or negative is it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. True, we aren't the hand lingering over the on/off switch, but we can hold that hand back for a long time with our efforts - by telling everyone we know that we love this world and we want it to continue. If we allow despair to take hold, all of the heroes leave the battlefield.

Do everything you can to keep people's spirits up. We need them to keep fighting. Stay optimistic. Focus on what we know to be true - this world is worth saving and there is plenty of realistic hope remaining. If we should lose this fight, don't let it be because there weren't enough people shaking their fists, defiant until the end.

Now everyone pop a Break Free and get back in the fight.

I agree with this so hard that I logged in to quote it for what I think might be first post.

[DrakeGrimm]

I agree with this so hard that I logged in to quote it for what I think might be first post.

Indeed it is your first post, and I also agree with the sentiment here. (Obviously, or I'd never have written my small novella that began this thread! )

Welcome to the fray, friend. Plenty of Insps to go around, including some Wakies. Let's keep at it, heroes.

[Victoria Victrix]

Ever since the news about the sun-setting of COH was posted on the CoH forums, I have been thinking about the various MMO communities.
Granted, I haven't visited every MMO out there. I have, however, played several of them.
Of all the MMOs I've been a part of, CoH has had the most unique community that I have seen.
I have a theory about why that may be.

It seems to me that many, I would go so far as to say that a vast majority of the long time players, have invested a lot of themselves into the characters that they play.
In so doing, they are influenced and even inspired to become more like the very heroes that they play.
So, this community, full of players inspired by heroes, acts with more integrity than any other that I have seen.

In a very real sense, this game that people use to get away from the stress of the real world, changes them for the better.
It urges them to actually be the heroes that the real world needs.



I'm sure that this would have been much more inspiring if I had an author's way with words.
It's just really hard for me to put how I feel down on paper, so to speak. 

I could not have said it better myself.

[Twisted Toon]

I could not have said it better myself.

That means a lot to me, coming from you.


By the way, I met one of your fans over on The Secret World MMO forums.

At least, I figured he was a fan, since he used the name Ashkevron.

[The-Hunter-JLJ]

That means a lot to me, coming from you.


By the way, I met one of your fans over on The Secret World MMO forums.

At least, I figured he was a fan, since he used the name Ashkevron.

(Lol) I am wondering to this day who was driving the really well done Kethryveris I chatted with for a while one night in DDO. They knew their Velgarth lore, too.

[DrakeGrimm]

This will be the last time I bump my own thread.

Over all, I've seen a lot more positivity around here, and for that I am grateful. I feel, however, there are still a few who could benefit from seeing a message of positivity and support. We're all a family here, and sometimes family needs a reminder that we're not alone.

* DrakeGrimm hugs everyone!

[The-Hunter-JLJ]

Just point 'em out, Drake, and we'll berate, belittle, and harangue them until their attitude becomes positive. ... What? ... Why are you looking at me like that? 

[Atlantea]

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"   

[Twisted Toon]

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"   

You are, or know, a Marine, right?

[Cinnder]

Wasn't sure where to post this, so I thought here was as good as anywhere.

Last week I visited an exhibit on video games at the Smithsonian's American Art Museum in DC.  The very first placard had this to say, which I thought rather relevant to our situation:

..................................
Three Voices
Artist, Game, Player
..................................

Video games combine graphics, sound,
story, and interaction to create meaningful
and immersive experiences.  Imaginative
artists and designers use this medium to
create worlds and tell stories.  None of this
is possible, however, without the participation
of the player.  Everyone who plays a game
puts a little of themselves into the experience,
and takes away something that is wholly unique.
The conversation among the game, the artist,
and the player is critical to understanding video
games as art.

[DrakeGrimm]

Wasn't sure where to post this, so I thought here was as good as anywhere.

Last week I visited an exhibit on video games at the Smithsonian's American Art Museum in DC.  The very first placard had this to say, which I thought rather relevant to our situation:

..................................
Three Voices
Artist, Game, Player
..................................

Video games combine graphics, sound,
story, and interaction to create meaningful
and immersive experiences.  Imaginative
artists and designers use this medium to
create worlds and tell stories.  None of this
is possible, however, without the participation
of the player.  Everyone who plays a game
puts a little of themselves into the experience,
and takes away something that is wholly unique.
The conversation among the game, the artist,
and the player is critical to understanding video
games as art.

...I swear if that weren't so lengthy it would be my new forum sig. My hat is off to the bloody brilliant genius who wrote that.