Insert Cool Title Here
Rick von Ruger
Once upon a time...
There was one country, one military, one cause
and everyone had fun.
Once upon a time...
We only had 5 fights, but we all fought them together
and we all had fun.
Once upon a time...
We wrote articles, hung out on irc, made our own game
and it was fun.
It seems these days as if the game changes like the breeze, and so do we. Going about our eLives like everything is normal, even when nothing is the same. When I was born the eWorld was big and bright and full of possibilities, now this world has a one-track mind; fight. Has the whole world really changed or have the eyes with which I see it? Is this really the same game with many of the same people with the same reasons to play?
I know I'm not alone when I say I dont feel the same way about this game anymore. I wish I could die. I have tried to quit several times to no avail. In many regards I am addicted to this game, and cannot deny it. I guess no matter what happens I'll still be around, whether active, two clicking, or even ignoring the game for a while.
The media module is dead. Nobody writes real articles anymore; even less read them. My first article as a noob got almost 700 votes, but I would be astounded if this got 70. The economy... wait, whats an economy? The military module used to be based on a single epic battle per day; now anyone can fight anytime, and fight more every hour.
I have never really been involved in politics. My life started when i joined the eUS military. The Training Corps was the only place to be to learn how to fight and play the game effectively. Not only that, but after learning how to use IRC I realized how much fun interacting with everyone else could be. Jolly jokes, peculiar pranks, and captivating conversations were the norm. After leaving the TC, I transferred to the National Guard, where I remain to this day. No matter what happens, whether we win or lose battles, we have eachother, and we try to have fun.
But this isnt the same world as when I was born. the eUS military isnt even the 'real' military anymore. Since the inception of the USAF, there have been countless military organizations and militias to choose from. All competing for new players, fighting in different battles, and socializing independently of eachother. Our once great military strength which I so loved to be a part of is split into many fragments. We are like a great gem of ancient lore, which has been shattered and scattered to the four winds. Imagine how powerful we could be if we were all united once again. If we could all work together. If we could all coordinate in the same channels.
All around me I hear voices of discontent. People bitch about politics, people bitch about this or that other group, people bitch about ineffective or unreasonable leadership, people bitch about the game, people bitch about the admins, people bitch about other people, people bitch about other people bitching. We could all go on bitching forever for whatever reasons until we all just want to quit. If you're like me, you probably found you cant really quit. Maybe something about this game, or the way it used to be, or the way it might be one day.
This is the part of the article where I would propose a solution. Some glorious revelation to make everything right and enjoyable for everyone again. I wish I could do just that. The truth is I dont have a solution. There is nothing I can do. I am just one little fish in a bigass sea. But maybe there is something WE can do. We are the players in this game, and like the real world, this game is what we make of it. We cant change the game itself. We cant change the way the admins chose to alter the game. We cannot change anything but ourselves, how we organize ourselves, and how we conduct ourselves. We would be great if we were one country united, under fun, with winning and enjoyment for all.
A great man once said, "STFU and FIGHT." Now that the game revolves around just that, cant we all stfu and fight together? I think it'd be fun.
If you like this article, shout it because nobody will see it if you dont.
Comments
Or maybe im just stark raving mad
Insert Cool Comment Here
Totally awesome article Rick ❤
Nice article.
I too, am mad.
Good Article
" Is this really the same game with many of the same people with the same reasons to play? "
Unfortunately not : / A new lucrative noob class not asking what we did is on the rise : /
Nice write-up. Voted.
United we stand, divided we fail
I miss that too
No BooBies! BooBies are the solution to life's troubles!
Seriously, just don't try to beat the game, just play it and enjoy the friends you have made here.
v&s&shouted
Totally good Article. The US used to have just one divide. Congress/Elites and the US Military. Sure there were militias but they were mostly the product of political parties who employed them as soldiers and voters.
Now you've got a ton of military units, the JCS Military, the USAF, small groups of random people, the elites, the other elites, the multi-accounters, new players, ect (The list goes on and on)
We are divided and I dont see a re-unification any time soon. Too many ego's to shrink, too much bad blood, too many people who dont have a clue.
Votado
@Thedillpickl http://media.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/778667/80655230.jpg
voted.
omg rod, not plastic boobs x_x
This is a really epic article to read. It lets the read contemplate on the situation that we are in. Not a lot of people write articles like this anymore. I love it.
Good Stuff.
Agreed without reservation.
Adding to Pony Express on National Broadcast System.
I have been fighting this planned stagnation for a while, now. What did it get me? An article from Gnilraps suggesting I get laid in RL??? Instead of writing in the style of P. Quinn(completely useless), start addressing the issues that got eUS to this point. And if you can't see the players(forum dwellers) that got us here, I suppose they will stay in charge. An more similar articles will appear, to be complimented by the masses.
Lots of excellent points here. I do disagree about the battles per day though: I prefer to be able to log in and fight anytime, given that my schedule doesn't revolve around Erep, and never will. Especially now that fighting is virtually the only way to level up.
"Imagine how powerful we could be if we were all united once again. If we could all work together. If we could all coordinate in the same channels."
#eus-war is the Joint Strike Channel for every US militia and every branch of the USAF. Everybody is in there, even some from the JCS militia. Most of you are not. Talk to your Branch COs, we'd love to have you guys, all of you, in there with the rest of us.
Good Stuff
Good article. There has, without a doubt, been a great deal of change over the last year+. Some of that change is due to admin fiat that prompted many established players to walk away and caused the vast number of new players to not give the game a chance.
IMHO the greater issue is what many consider to be a decline of the eUSA lietmotif. A year ago CP elections had 4-4.5k votes with many other eAmericans holding ATO/PTO papers. The most recent election had 1.8k votes. On top of that ~50% decline many people/various groups openly boast of administering multi accts so IMHO the number of real voters was probably closer to 1.3k. These ever declining numbers tell me the greater eUSA community is in decline, it no longer is seen by many as worth time and effort.
Trolling, spam PMs targeted at rival groups, manufactured drama & vendettas waged to satisfy individual egos are the dominant threads in the eUSA. The lack of civil discourse, more than admin whims, is what has caused this community to whither. Things calmed down a bit after we were wiped but now that people are smelling "victory" the knives are being sharpened and the vicious cycle will begin anew.
TL😉R: If people want the eUSA to do well then drop the trolling, spamming, drama and power plays. Let people play the game w/o feeling harassed. If things continue as they are then eventually the eUSA will be 200 people (and their multis) sniping at each other. Not my idea of fun.
PS: V+S
Good article
loved this comment: "..the elites, the other elites.."
Excellent article, voted.
v4 will be better : )
INB4 gonna ragequit
The game is what you make of it.
^ That's my philosophy with regards to playing games.
Based on rl commitments, I determine how involved I want be, not someone else.
I never spend rl money on games, so there is never the feeling of disappointment or guilt sometimes associated with that.
I try to remain as objective as possible, regardless of which "camp" people are in, when it comes to my interactions with others, even if that means losing friends or "position".
I know I'm not expected, nor do I want to know, "everything", but I do try to learn and be aware.
With that in mind, I honestly try to be the best player that I can be, without being a burden on others, while making friends from all over the world, and having fun.
If that doesn't work, I'm out of the game.
Nice article. o/
"#eus-war is the Joint Strike Channel for every US militia and every branch of the USAF. Everybody is in there, even some from the JCS militia. Most of you are not. Talk to your Branch COs, we'd love to have you guys, all of you, in there with the rest of us."
im not talking about just a central channel for battle coordination, although its a start. there are too many militaries/militias in this country who are all forced to 'compete' with eachother for funding and support. competing amongst eachother is no way to compete against our enemies. plus all that competition leads to more division and less fun for the people of the country. less fun leads to less retention. less retention leads to stagnation. im tired, and just want to see the game be as much fun and bright as it used to be for new players. i have a feeling that this is just a crazy fantasy. however.
if youre somebody 'important' and you want to discuss these issues, shoot me a PM or get at me on IRC at #ricks_office
@Rod, finger lickin' good!
@George, the "planned stagnation" you speak of is the Admins doing. Don't let Gnilraps sour humor and PQ's panache for using fancy words dismay you. It is all part of the culture here. Perhaps we need more of George tilting at windmills? Maybe you're correct and you need to show us the way, Don Quixote!
Very good article.
sour?
/me dips a finger to taste...
ok. you're right.
Maybe raving, but not stark.
http://eusaforums.com/forum/index.php/topic,10517.msg169757.html#msg169757
awesome. Voted hard. real hard.
What NXNW said! 😁😁
Voted, Shouted, Reread, Agreed
I feel the same way to be honest, I have been feeling this way for a long long time now
Voted, Shouted, Reread, Agreed x2
Maybe stark, but you're not raving.
Excellent Article.
All valid points.
endorsed
Big v+s
\o/
STFU and Fight!
Vote + Sub + Shout! This is by far one of the greatest articles I have read in a while Rick, Good job dude!
Awesome Article, voted
Maybe no one has noticed, But I used to chut up articles all the time, (heck, I havent been around in quite awhile, maybe Chutisms has fallen by the chutside) but this game has changed, and I have tried to let "me" die, but cant bring myself to it. I was in the TC and moved up to MI before everything went haywire with the us military. I think if the eUS miltary was like it once was, eSpain and others wouldnt be a problem, because we would be a unified unit with a unified goal. there is still room for "militias" or "mercenaries", but I feel they should be self funded. Enough said from this out of touch player. Nice article
Not every militia is an OMS funded militia. Some don't want to deal with the requirements. Others don't want to be locked into imperialistic battles and would rather concentrate on RWs and defending the eUS and other countries from CWs by ONE. And competition only leads to division if you are the type to forget that this is just a game and take things personally and engage in a sulk-fest. Competition leads to exploring new methods that are more effective than the previous ones you were using.