A Letter I Wish I Posted Earlier

Started by SDarkshine, December 08, 2012, 10:25:00 PM

SDarkshine

Hello, everyone.

Days after our beloved City faded beyond the Sunset, I regret not posting this letter that I made for those at the City of Heroes forum.  Not that I could anyway... I was a free player.  However, I should have posted it here, in a community that was just as involved, before the game shut down.

This was what I wanted to share with everyone in the City of Heroes community:

"To our City of Heroes Community,
When I found out – earlier in October – that NCSoft planned to close down City of Heroes, I was in complete shock.  It may be hard to believe that I care about this unique MMORPG, given my 'attendance', compared to the average member here.  I confess that I did not participate much in this community – I normally don't in any non-face-to-face interaction.

I wasn't there when City of Heroes first started, though I've had heard of it as being one of the best games out there.  I wasn't there when the game's players were allowed to offer suggestions and comments on what we wanted in the game.  I was there when Heroes and Villains combined, but it was a trial version – while I did enjoy the trial, I was constantly preoccupied with reality – mainly high school and college (this is not an excuse, just a fact).  Just after Going Rogue and Freedom came out, I began anew with a VIP status – as a Villain (who just turned level 50 on October 31, 2012 @ 11:22 pm, thanks to my friends – characters named Touchup and Princess Nicci), followed by a Praterion Hero.  I thought for sure that I could truly get into the game and, at least, contribute more to its community.  Unfortunately, reality gripped me again, in the form of my job.  I lasted for only three months before I 'demoted' to having a free account.  And even with that, I haven't played much.  I missed all the major events, including the death of Statesman.

So, yes, I'm not what one would call an 'average' player in the City of Heroes' community.  I'm especially below the 'average' post-buddy.  With such 'attendance' it may be a curiosity to know why I was shocked by the sudden Farewell Letter from Paragon Studios.  Did I care?

...

Yes...yes, I did care.
I did give a crying-out-loud care!

I may not have played much, but that doesn't mean that I didn't have wonderful times and fond memories of playing.  The first time I started playing this game, I thrilled at how I used my powers!  Taking down my opponents and enemies was always a pleasure – especially when I robbed Paragon's finest bank!  While all of the action was fun when I play by myself, it was all the more entertaining and worthwhile when I teamed with fellow heroes and villains (plus the in-between) alike!  I got to meet some of the nicest, helpful players ever – that and I got to meet some of the developers (Thank you shout-out to 7deCoeur, Freitag, and Leggs!).  They, as well as the story plots of missions and arcs, are what draw me to play this game as much as what my reality allows me to.  I especially love this game for testing my strategy capabilities – what powers to use, which, order to use them, whom and when not to use them...the works.

I do appreciate this fantastic example of what an MMORPG should be about – everything Paragon Studios (and all of the developers involved) have done for this game deserves all the support, respect, and appreciation that we players can give.  I feel quite ashamed that I did not – and was not able to – do more for City of Heroes when it was progressing well.  I hope that, with the resources I have now, I can do more to support this community in its time of need.

I've been looking through the City of Heroes forums, as well as the Titan Network.  A lot of people have already made wonderful strides to spread the word to the media.  I figured that I could do so, as well – in particular, contact the G4 network (unless someone has already done that.  Either way, I'll follow suit).  G4 is one of the most well-known gaming media network that I know – surely they could make an episode concerning City of Heroes, as well as document our community's efforts.  Being the network that it is – and with their previous media about this game – there has definitely got to be some people on the inside who are interested about this.

With a variety of people interested in this turn of events, some of us may be wondering how former developers of this game feel – in particular, those currently in Cryptic Studios.  How do they feel about this?  I'm not trying to coerce them to do anything by this statement.  It's just that, from what I comprehended, Cryptic Studios is like an extended family of Paragon Studios.  Some of the developers there may have been shocked or got upset over the news just as much as – or more than – we do.  They may even have considered doing something already, i.e. convince Perfect World or Atari to get NCSoft to sell the game to them, or ensuring that the media keeps tabs on the game's progress.  I'm positive that those at Cryptic Studios care about their sister (or brother) studio.  So, while I did want to ask them concerning their thoughts about City of Heroes, I'm going to give them some space and respect, in case they did try.

This turn of events for City of Heroes has been hard for a lot of people.  It is obviously seen on the expressions of those who have been through it all (or the majority).  While the actions of these people (including the veterans of this game), who are giving their all to keep this game online, are admirable, I just don't want this community to overlook or ignore those of us who have not been here for long.  We may not have been there in the beginning, we may not have been there for the majority of the 'good times', we may not even have done much to make our concerns visible or loud enough.  But that does not mean we don't care.

We do care.
We do care about our City.

Please don't forget us, the ones who haven't or couldn't, do much, but still care a lot.

Sincerely,
On Behalf of the Aforementioned,
Motivatea,
A.k.a.
Ebongel,
Dark Blast/Pain Domination Rogue"


I sort of didn't have enough courage to post it here, for fear of offending somebody.  Now that the Sunset has past, I guess it couldn't hurt to post it now.

...Then again, it kinda feels sore having to relive my feelings for this.

Thank you all for your time.  I'll try to post some of my last pictures on the memoriam thread.

Triplash

Howdy! I understand what it's like to be hesitant about making that first post, glad you decided to jump in and try it :)

The important thing to remember is, City of Heroes wasn't the sort of game where you had to play 6-8 hours every day just to keep up. You could take a break for months at a time and not fall behind in any meaningful way whatsoever. I know, I took a few of those breaks.

What it was, was a game that people could understand in a few minutes, enjoy in a few hours, and love in a few days. Whether you had ten hours a day or ten minutes a week, you could still accomplish things and feel powerful doing it.

So don't compare your feelings to those who were around more often or got more involved. There's no need of it. You loved this city, and we loved this city. That's all that matters.

Oh, and welcome to the forums! Don't be shy when you have something to say, most of us like seeing new faces around here :)

johnrobey

#2
Bravo! and Thanks!  First to SDarkshine and then Triplash.  Not merely for what they each said but how they said it.
"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi         "In every generation there has to be some fool who will speak the truth as he sees it." -- Boris Pasternak
"Where They Have Burned Books They Will End In Burning Human Beings" -- Heinrich Heine

Electric-Knight

Hiya! And welcome! :)

I absolutely understand where you're coming from and I honestly don't think it is strange, or hard to believe, that you truly care and miss CoH/V...
Because it absolutely is a great game that can be enjoyed from just playing it with as little amount of time as one is able to manage.
I wasn't around from the beginning, but I did post a good amount on the forums, eventually and was able to immerse myself in the community there a bit.
And I used to play the game a lot more, for longer sessions, then I ended up doing so for the past two or so years.
I stayed subscribed and I still played, but it was a small amount of time comparatively to the average player.
I mostly loved having it around, so that I could log in for a quick mission or three. Or to mess around in the costume creator. Sometimes I'd get on a base editing kick! Whatever it was, it was there when I wanted it to be and I want it to still be there... Just as I imagine you do as well.

We may all love >fill in your favorite vacation location< but we don't go there all the time.

I hope you get the chance to play it a lot more some day!
--
"Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever."
- Baron Munchausen

http://www.pauldamonthomas.com/

healix

SDarkshine, it's not how long you played, it's your connection to the City. You loved the game and that makes you a valued member of our community. Glad you spoke up, and glad you are here.
Listen to the 'mustn'ts'. Listen to the 'don'ts'. Listen to the 'shouldn'ts', the 'impossibles', the 'won'ts'. Listen to the 'you'll never haves', then listen close to me... Anything can happen . Anything can be.

SDarkshine

Thank you all soo much for your replies and your welcomes!!  ;D

Thank you especially for your advice.  Now that I think of it, I really shouldn't have been distraught over how long I have played this game.  I cared about it, felt connection to it, and I have a wonderful series of good time there.  That's all that matters.  8)

Well, after all of this heart-felt welcome, I better get started on posting pictures of my fun times at City of Heroes!

...uh, I just have to figure out how to upload them online  :P.  It will take a little moment...

Hehe, again, thank you all!  :)

healix

SD, this is my favorite place to upload photos/gifs

imgur


You don't have to register...only if you want to have your own private place to store stuff,
Can't wait to see your pics! :D
Listen to the 'mustn'ts'. Listen to the 'don'ts'. Listen to the 'shouldn'ts', the 'impossibles', the 'won'ts'. Listen to the 'you'll never haves', then listen close to me... Anything can happen . Anything can be.