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Stay with me for a bit, even though I may have scared you. This post is the result of three recent events:

1. Blizzcon being canceled

2. Sense of frustration in general over game play and player choice(s), or lack thereof

3. Responsibilities to the real world

Now, I am not really that upset over Blizzcon being canceled per se. Of all the fans out there, only a small percentage could and did actually go. And, my impressions of it were somewhat disappointing, but the thing is, I had a lot of hope for this year, because I thought somehow, with the help of my new blogging buddies, we could do something cool --what exactly, I don't know. But it involved cocktails and writing, not necessarily together. 

The underlying question is, "Is Blizzard in trouble?" 

I don't really know, and am not sure how much it matters. 

Sometimes....but gee, sometimes...I really wish they'd listen to players (see blog list, sidebar left) who have some fun suggestions. Not every suggestion can or should be acted upon, but perhaps if Blizzards' think tank of sorts did talk to people like say, Tome, or Navi, or Vidyala (the list goes on) perhaps...well. My next post called "Dragon Lady" will offer up my wish.

One thing players have said time and again is more control over their actual play. For the first time last night, I felt a twinge of social pressure. I was exhausted, and cross-dressing rogue showed me the tips and tricks of archeology. And I'll be damned, it's really kind of fun! Got to cover and see beautiful scenary, dig up dirt, and got the virtual smell of sand, sweat, fresh mossy dirt, whatever, and see the sunsets all over the world. I mean, think aobut it: if you could fly around the 24 hours of a world of sunsets and sunrises, how amazing would that be? Perhaps NASA is working on it. Oh wait. Funding. Right. Besides, I really want that Assistant Professor title, and a ride-able dinosaur. Some guild-mates were finished with their raid (sigh--mixed feelings) and wanted to do one more heroic. On shaman girl, I had 50 little nagging valor points. Now, it's a numbers' game, and that infuriates me, too. Not having the flexibility about when and how I get Valor Points drives me nuts. I know that Blizzard will never not cap them. I get that. But what I wish for, and this is a big meta-wish, is more solo or partner play: quests and difficult, challenging things one can do by oneself, or with one other buddy, and a schedule of when I can get them. 

I do get resentful of Blizzard trying to shoe horn all the players in together all the time.

This is a shoe horn. People don't use them anymore.
It may be considered an antique.

To shoe-horn something is figurative language which means to make something fit when it doesn't want to. Sometimes I am in a fuzzy-slipper mood and they force me in my high heels.

A. I didn't want to go

B. I quit playing sooner than I wanted because my excuse of having to do dishes and a "no thank you" were met with a lot of "come on, it'll be quick, etc." I know they were being sweet, but like I said, I was really tired. I wanted to keep digging holes in my backyard and not hear Illidan talk about saving his people single-handedly.

So, Blizz, think about it: little bite-sized pieces, for those of us on a Blizz diet?

Which brings me to my scolding:

One technological aspect of our planet which is driving me bonkers is parents ignoring their children. I'm not talking about teenagers, etc., but those moms whose faces look more at their smartphones than their children's. Now, please believe me. No one works harder than young moms. And yes, this goes for dads, too, but somehow dads have managed to skirt this. I'm not giving them a pass, but the double-standards exist. This goes for all parents: "Get your damn face out of your phone and talk to your kids." If you wonder why our reading scores suck, look no further than the conversations you are NOT having with your kids. I go coo-coo nuts when I'm in a PUG and a player needs to tend to some young child in distress, and then feels guilt toward the strangers in the group. I am annoyed with the other players and annoyed with the parent. Don't misunderstand: any AFK moment should be met with a "excuse me" sort of thing, and be made quick. If it's truly an emergency, stop playing. Repeat: STOP PLAYING.

If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe Walter Dean Myers.

It reminds me of that character in The Guild with all the babies. I'm sure some teacher somewhere is going to get them in her classroom and be expected to teach them to read when they can't even talk. Schema building, people, it's all about schema.

Which leads me back to my original point: I think it's very cool to have all players, those with kids, those without, to play on their schedule and needs. Moms and dads need breaks, too, but also need to pull away when family responsibilities call. I don't know if Vidyala has children, but look how happy she is just to have a meal with a loved one?


One final point: Yes, I do wish Blizzard offered up challenging, interesting game play for those of us who crave a challenge, but don't necessarily want to carve out 8 hours of our week to do so, with other (shudder) people. I would like the whole raiding/guild structure to change. Not sure what or how, but more flexibility, say having someone on a 'day pass' and get guild perks for a fun raid run, old or new content, and not have everything be such a big stinky deal. The big macho guilds "We're NUMBER ONE! We're NUMBER ONE!" sorts of guilds, could be structured differently from others somehow. 


Okay. I'm done now. Go about your business people, nothing to see here.

"Never too late to have a happy childhood."

I think that quote should be credited to one of my favorite writers, Tom Robbins, of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and Still Life with Woodpecker fame. (Princess Leigh Cherie is still the red-haired, unchallenged princess of all time, with a pack of Camels and musings on the moon.)

Had a fabulous time in ICC yesterday. Two tiny thorns: first, I got a little tired and grumpy, and opened my mouth.

Vent group: Why isn't there more DPS on the slimes? (Crimminy-jim-jam, don't know how many times a day I hear that!)

Well, being a DPS'er, and trying to get to the slimes, the slimes have a trampoline effect and would bounce me back.

After about the third or thirtieth time of this, and Vent chat, yelling "More DPS on SLIMES!" I said, "I'm trying, but it keeps bouncing me back!"

"Yes, they do that." (Comic-book Guy voice in tone.)

Okay. (This may be more about leadership: one calm healer explained the green slimes versus orange slimes in her sweet Druid-healer voice.)

The other small splinter was hearing grown men talk about "back in my day" perspective. And this wasn't an historical perspective, to help understand nuances of game play. This was, "How can anyone NOT have been in ICC before?" (This, for a change, was actually not directed at me.) There was a lot of talk about weapons, and gear, and, "Oh, see?! Of course that's dropping now!" -- hence the quote about happy childhoods. Sometimes a little dungeon or raid redemption is just what you need, better and cheaper than therapy.

So, the new 4.2 patch must really have their panties in a scourge-twist:

http://wow.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/patch-4-2-ptr-first-look-at-the-encounter-journal/

I recognize that players who have been living part-time in Azeroth for years claim ownership, and like unwelcome immigrants, we newer players are checked at the border for proper documentation and validity. But consider, good sirs, that first of all, like the United States, and most nations, this virtual world is a business. Business is made stronger by innovation and drawing in new consumers, new labor, and skills. You may not like or appreciate the new and diverse populations arriving on your Stormwind or Booty Bay shores, but we are here nonetheless.

And trust me, my friends, none of that "I had to walk five miles to school in the snow" garbage got in the way of my fun, or my bucket-full of achievements.