Hello!

Well this is my first post (As you can see) in a blog ever.

My goal with this really is just to put pen to paper on random thoughts I have on things I read - I spend a lot of time reading the latest news and stories from most MMOG worlds, as well as quite a few forums and bulletin boards - and I generally have opinions - but I'm not much one for posting to forums - I don't feel much like sparring with other folk!

Well - lets see - where to start - I guess a little background on my history with MMOGs (And prior to them, MUDs)

I have been playing online RPGs for almost 10 years now, starting when I arrived at University in 1994.
Back in those days it was all strictly text-based MUDs via telnet though. I played mostly LP MUDs for 5-6 years from then - and also coded on them, which was a great experience.

When Ultima Online hit the stands, I was still too much in my text-based mode and I really didn't want to touch it - graphics weren't for me at the time (A lot of MUDders still look down on people who play MMOGs these days which I find sad - they see them as somehow 'inferior' as they require less of an imagination - which I don't necessarily agree with) - though in hind-sight I wish I HAD jumped in then as history was in the making. I finally got dragged into these types of games in mid-2000 when my flat-mate of the time showed me EverQuest - and life wasn't the same anymore! I got suckered into that game for almost 2 years - I have no regrets about it as I had great time and I still remember it fondly, but I've moved on since then.

Since then I've moved on to other games, though I have become more and more jaded - the 'magic' I experienced has seemingly disappeared in a series of derivative games that really didnt offer all THAT much new to the equation. Thats one of the topics I will (more or less) cover as I post here as I think its something a lot of MMOG players feel sooner or later - that 'burn-out' factor.

Anyway - thats my first post - more to come!