I feel where they're coming from. I'll still play, but I won't be able to get what I had back. I'm ok with this, but others aren't. And that's ok too.
He's essentially saying that when his characters died, the game died with them. I'm not so sure that accusing him of "never loving the game" is in order though, considering how much time he had put into it. Perhaps the love of the game and the love and care he put into his characters is too much for him to bear parting with. That doesn't mean he didn't love the game. In fact, it could mean exactly the opposite. Perhaps he loved the game TOO much. People were very, very attached to their characters. I'm not afraid to say I shed some tears when it finally hit me that I wouldn't be able to ever play my Warshade (as he was) again. This game meant something to people.
My heart goes out to folks who are troubled by the lack of character data being transferred.
I remember chatting with one of the NPC's that would tell me how many hours my character had logged...well over 5000. Badge count was over 1200, 1323, I think. Had almost all of them. Those lengthy shard TFs, the pvp badges! Ugh..that was back when Siren's Call was new and was super-awesome(pre-issue 13)! I'd hate to have to get those again post-issue 13!
But - please remember to tell your friends this: nothing is cast in stone. Character data *might* get put on the table. I'm not at all sure how that would get worked out, or how much extra it would cost, but it's in the realm of possibility. I don't think it's likely, but it is possible.
As a player that had a ton of level 50's, well, if you have the time, it's easy to do. It really is easy once you know how. But, circumstances change. Some of you who were kids when you played are now adults. You have jobs. Some of you who were young adults have now graduated and not only have a job, but a wife and one or more children. Even if the wife and kids are on board, there are so many other things that take precedence over game time. Homework, if you're kids are playing. Can't be missing the book reports and the math questions for a task/strike force!
In my case, I'm actually concerned that I'll blimp out again after having lost a great deal of weight. I'm not even sure I can play CoH without pop-tarts or pizza nearby. I'm not sure Ezekiel Bread and tuna will fill that same roll. (Role! Had to sneak a weak pun in.)
Time does change things. I'm not at all sure I want to play 14 hours a day, even on a weekend like I did before. (I was unemployed for a year in 2011) That's just playing to be playing, forgetting about the real world. I'll be far more casual than I ever was - but you can bet I'll get me a level 50 as quickly as I can so I can lead those iTrials.
Which - now that I think of it, those will be interesting. Didn't we have to be subscribed to play those? I'm not at all sure we'll be able to play those unless the new team can somehow make everyone appear to be a subscriber. Not at all sure how that will be worked out. I'm so glad that's not my problem - yet!
I would tell your friend not to worry about it. A lot of us do understand that time that was invested in the characters. I do get the disappointment, and the reluctance to reinvest that time (again!) with the only reward being the return of what you already had. That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. No hard feelings here. I've a feeling we'll be missing several people with that view. Guess that's life in the big City of Heroes.
